Tsuga heterophylla
Western hemlock
(c) Caleb Catto, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pinaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Tsuga heterophylla (Western hemlock) is a native California tree in the Pinaceae family, recognized by (T. mertensiana); differentiated by elevation and habitat zones.
Western hemlock is a native shrub found in northern coastal California, western Klamath Range, and northwestern coastal regions in scattered northern coastal conifer to mixed-evergreen forests at elevations generally below 700 meters. Its small evergreen needles are persistent for 4 to 7 years, typically 5 to 20 millimeters long with blunt or rounded tips. Growing as a substantial tree potentially reaching 50 meters tall with a trunk up to 2.7 meters wide, it develops thin red-brown bark with narrow grooves and wide ridges as it matures. The tree's twigs are characteristically hairy, giving the branches a soft, textured appearance. Its dense, compact growth form creates distinctive layered branching typical of hemlock forests in coastal California.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (T. mertensiana); differentiated by elevation and habitat zones
Habitat and range
Habitat: Scattered in northern coastal conifer to mixed-evergreen forests
Elevation: generally < 700 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mono, Sonoma
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana
How to tell it apart
vs Abies: Hemlock cones hang down and are tiny (under 3 inches); fir cones stand upright like candles.; vs Conium: Hemlock is a tree with evergreen needles; poison-hemlock is an herbaceous plant with fernlike leaves and white flower umbels.; vs Pseudotsuga: Hemlock needles create feathery sprays with wedge-shaped scars; Douglas-fir has smoother twigs and larger cones with pitchfork bracts.; vs Sequoia: Hemlock has delicate needle sprays with tiny hanging cones; redwood has flat sprays of scale-like leaves.; vs Pinus: Hemlock needles attach individually; pine needles come bundled in groups of 2-5 with papery sheaths.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tsuga heterophylla native to California?
Yes. Tsuga heterophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Tsuga heterophylla grow?
Tsuga heterophylla occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mono, Sonoma, at elevations of generally < 700 m.
What plant family does Tsuga heterophylla belong to?
Tsuga heterophylla is in the Pinaceae family, genus Tsuga.
What habitat does Tsuga heterophylla grow in?
Tsuga heterophylla grows in Scattered in northern coastal conifer to mixed-evergreen forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.