Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Found in streams, rivers and their banks; moist forests; rich cove forests. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
71
Strong
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
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- Height
- 40–70 feet
- Spread
- 25–35 feet
- Light
- Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Usually moist
Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
Hemlock woolly adelgid. The hemlock woolly adelgid is severely affecting this species. Plant caution source
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Evergreen
- Bloom
- March to April
- Fruiting season
- September to November
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Recorded in 67 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
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Streams, rivers and their banks
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 156 animals.
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Yellow-rumped WarblerDendroica coronata
- American GoldfinchCarduelis tristis
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Common RavenCorvus corax
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Pine SiskinCarduelis pinus
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
80CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Tsuga
- Acleris varianaEastern Blackheaded Budworm
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Anticlea vasiliataVariable Carpet
- Argyrotaenia occultanaFall Spruce Needle Moth
- Argyrotaenia pinatubanaPine Tube Moth
- Argyrotaenia tabulanaLodgepole Needletier
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Callophrys gryneusOlive Hairstreak, Juniper Hairstreak, Nelson's Hairstreak
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
Show all 80
- Caripeta divisataGray Spruce Looper Moth
- Chloropteryx tepperariaAngled-Winged Emerald
- Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
- Coleotechnites apicitripunctellaGreen Hemlock Needleminer Moth
- Dasychira plagiataNorthern Conifer Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
- Epinotia radicanaRed-Striped Needleworm Moth
- Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
- Eucopina tocullionanaWhite Pine Cone Borer
- Eufidonia notatariaPowder Moth
- Eulithis propulsataCurrant Eulithis
- Eupithecia palpataSmall Pine Looper, Palpata Pug
- Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Feralia comstockiComstock's Sallow
- Feralia jocosaJocose Sallow, The Joker
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hydriomena divisariaBlack-Dashed Hydriomena, Transverse-Banded Looper
- Hydriomena renunciataRenounced Hydriomena
- Hypagyrtis piniataPine Measuringworm Moth, Pine Variant
- Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
- Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
- Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Lambdina pellucidariaYellow-Headed Looper, Eastern Pine Looper
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Macaria bisignataRed-Headed Inchworm
- Macaria fissinotataHemlock Angle
- Macaria signariaPale-Marked Angle, Spruce-Fir Looper, Dusky Peacock
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Metalectra quadrisignataFour-Spotted Fungus Moth, 4-Spotted Fungus Moth
- Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nepytia canosariaFalse Hemlock Looper Moth, Evergreen Span Worm
- Nepytia semiclusariaPine Conelet Looper
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Panthea acronyctoidesBlack Zigzag, Tufted Spruce Caterpillar
- Panthea furcillaEastern Panthea, Tufted Pine Panthea
- Paralobesia palliolanaSpruce Mlcromoth
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Syngrapha aliasSpruce Looper, Hooked Silver Y
- Syngrapha rectangulaSalt-and-Pepper Looper Moth
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype laricisLarch Tolype, Larch Lappet Moth
- Xanthorhoe labradorensisLabrador Carpet, Packard’s Carpet
- Xestia badicollisWhite Pine Cutworm, Northern Variable Dart, White Pine Dart, Northern Pine Dart
- Xestia elimataSouthern Variable Dart, Southern Pine Dart
- Xestia praeviaEarly Conifer Dart, Praevia Dart
- Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
- Zanclognatha dentataToothed Zanclognatha, Toothed Fan-Foot
- Apotomops wellingtoniana
- Dahlica walshella
1BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Tsuga
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
3BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Tsuga
- Loxia curvirostraRed Crossbill
- Loxia leucopteraWhite-winged Crossbill
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a–7b
- Soil pH
- Acidic
- Flower color
- Yellow
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- November
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “March to April” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “Yellow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Foliage color · “Dark green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “November” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 3a–7b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “40–70 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
- Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont differ)
- Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “25–35 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Canada Hemlock
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S4S5 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G4G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications