Fir Western Hemlock

Caution: Invasief!
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General characteristics of a Fir Western Hemlock

Western hemlock is native to western North America, from Alaska to California, in forests at elevations of 0-1500 m. The tree is often dominant in these forests. It is a highly shade-tolerant species that also has a wide range of moisture availability.

The western hemlock is an elegant, evergreen conifer with a beautiful pyramidal shape. The young needles are light green and darken with age. In autumn, the tree produces cones. The bark is deeply grooved. The needles are less comb-shaped than those of the Canadian hemlock. Furthermore, the needles are not hairy like those of the Canadian hemlock.

Characteristics


How to plant a Fir Western Hemlock

Dig the planting hole one-third deeper and wider than the roots. Place the seedling in the hole, keeping it slightly higher than the final planting depth, rather than right at the bottom of the hole. The root collar should eventually be at the boundary between the soil and the air. Some trees also have ridges on the root collar, which makes this easier. When placing the tree in the hole, keep it stable. The roots should not point upward or twist during planting, otherwise the tree will become unstable or could strangle itself. Also, spread the roots as much as possible. This gives the roots sufficient rooting space.

Fill the hole with moist, loose soil. Make sure the soil touching the root hairs (the roots thinner than 1 millimeter) is well crumbled. Shake the tree slightly up and down so that the soil reaches between the root hairs.

Place about 10 centimeters of soil above the root hairs and press it lightly with your foot, ensuring the roots have good contact with the soil moisture.

 

How to harvest a Fir Western Hemlock

Insert the spade diagonally into the soil about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) from the trunk. Carefully work around the seedling, inserting the spade in a circular motion. Use the spade as leverage to gently loosen the seedling, trying to keep as much of the root system intact as possible. Finally, lift the seedling out of the soil with both hands to avoid damaging the roots.

Caring for and pruning your Fir Western Hemlock

If you want to keep it smaller, pruning once a year during the winter months is possible. Regular deep watering is better than frequent light watering. Water especially during dry spells in the first year. Mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Where does a Fir Western Hemlock grow

The Western hemlock thrives in loamy and sandy loam soils that are well-drained and fertile. Soils that are too heavy and wet, such as heavy clay, are less suitable, while dry, sandy soil requires extra care and fertilization to ensure the tree grows well.


General

Origin
Alien
Invasive
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 6 Up to 10 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 20 Up to 30 year
Maximum Age 200 Up to 500 year
Required Space 64 Up to 100m2
Growth Rate trees.medium

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating No
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen No
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter November tot April
Leaf Shapes Needle-shaped
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Egg-shaped

Other

Root
Broad root system
Superficial rooting
Heart root system
Bloom
Has cones
Wind sensitivity Sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Not particularly susceptible to any specific disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

The main characteristics of Western hemlock are its grooved twigs, short needles (up to 2 cm), and the significant difference in needle length. Many needles are also twisted and bear broad white stripes on their undersides. When crushed, the leaves have a distinctive odor reminiscent of carrot leaves. The cones are small, brown, oval, and grow solitary on the branches.

Western hemlock resembles Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), but the latter has leaves 1–1.5 cm long, widest at the base. The two white stripes on the underside of the leaves are less than half as wide as the leaf. The buds are ovate, and the cones are 1.5–2.5 cm long and pointed. Silver fir (Abies spp.), spruce (Picea spp.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) have sessile leaves with a narrowed base.

Light requirement of the Fir Western Hemlock

The Fir Western Hemlock thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
  • Full shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Fir Western Hemlock

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Fir Western Hemlock to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Fir Western Hemlock

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Fir Western Hemlock in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Fir Western Hemlock

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Fir Western Hemlock like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    Small Engrailed

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer April Up to May

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Human
    Horse
    Cow
    Pig
    Chicken
    Goat
    Sheep
    Herbivorous rodents
    Dog
    Cat
    Foxes
    Badgers
    Ferret
    Mouse
    Squirrel
    Wild boar
    Deer
    Roe deer
    Beavers

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Fir Western Hemlock looks like

    A mature western hamlock tree

    This is what the fruits of a Fir Western Hemlock look like

    Fruit of the western hamlock

    This is what a Fir Western Hemlock in bloom looks like

    Western hamlock tree in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Fir Western Hemlock looks like

    Needles of the western hamlock tree
    Needles of the western hamlock