Mountain Hemlock
Tsuga mertensiana
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.
Tsuga mertensiana is an evergreen Tree growing to 45 m (147ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It cannot tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Height (m): 45
Where it is found
Exposed ridges and slopes at high altitudes, often to 3000 metres. The best stands are found in sheltered areas with deep moist well-drained soils, high precipitation and long cold winters.
Western N. America - Alaska to California.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Inner bark - raw or dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. It is best used in the spring. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails. A herbal tea is made from the young leaves and shoot tips.
Inner bark: the bark that is found just beneath the tough outer bark of trees and shrubs.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The bark is astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic. A tea made from the inner bark or twigs is helpful in the treatment of influenza, colds, kidney or bladder problems, and also makes a good enema for treating diarrhoea. It can also be used as a gargle or mouthwash for mouth and throat problems or externally to wash sores and ulcers. The powdered bark can be put into shoes for tender or sweaty feet or for foot odour. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used to treat burns. The warm gum obtained from the trunks has been used as a dressing on cuts.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Other
Rating:
The slightly unripe cones are used in pot-pourri. They retain an attractive scent for several years. Yields a resin similar to Abies balsamea, it is gathered by incisions in the trunk or by boiling the wood. The bark contains 8 - 14% tannin. The inner bark is used according to one report. A brown dye is obtained from the bark. The boughs are steamed or rubbed on furniture and used as a room deodorant and disinfectant. A pitch (called hemlock pitch), is obtained by distillation of the young branches. Tolerant of light trimming, plants can be grown as a tall hedge. Wood - strong. Used for heavy construction. Close-grained, light, soft and weak according to other reports, which go on to say that it is occasionally manufactured into lumber when other wood is not available.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.
Incense: Aromatic plants that can be burnt to impart a pleasant smell, repel insects and disinfect closed areas.
Pot-pourri: Aromatic plants used to impart a pleasant smell to an area. Can this be grouped with incense or essential oil?
Resin: Used in perfumery, medicines, paints, soap making etc. This also includes turpentine, which is extracted from many resins and used as a preservative, water proofer etc,
Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Hedge: Hedge
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Hedge, Aggressive surface roots possible, Screen, Specimen, Woodland garden. An easily grown plant, it thrives best when growing in a deep well-drained soil in the western parts of Britain where it appreciates the higher rainfall. However, it succeeds in most soils and positions, being especially good on acidic sandy soils. Plants are very shade tolerant when young, but need more sunlight as they grow older. Plants are thin and poor when grown in dry or exposed places. Dislikes atmospheric pollution. A very ornamental plant, it is slow growing for the first few years, averaging 30cm a year, but older trees, especially in Scottish lowland sites in areas with cool moist summers, are growing rapidly. Trees live 400 - 500 years in the wild. They commence bearing seeds when about 20 - 30 years old, years of high production alternating with years of low production. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Special Features:North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: Seed - it germinates better if given a short cold stratification and so is best sown in a cold frame in autumn to late winter. It can also be sown in early spring, though it might not germinate until after the next winter. If there is sufficient seed, an outdoor sowing can be made in spring. Pot-grown seedlings are best potted up into individual pots once they are large enough to handle - grow them on in a cold frame and plant them out in early summer of the following year. Trees transplant well when they are up to 80cm tall, but they are best put in their final positions when they are about 30 - 45 cm or less tall, this is usually when they are about 5 - 8 years old. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy; Hedge;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 5-7
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist