Eastern hemlock

Description:

The eastern hemlock grows well in shade and is very long lived, with the oldest recorded specimen being at least 554 years old. The tree generally reaches heights of about 31 m (100 ft), but exceptional trees have been recorded up to 53 m (173 ft). The diameter of the trunk at breast height is often 1.5 m (5 feet), but again, outstanding trees have been recorded up to 1.75 m (6 feet).The trunk is usually straight and monopodial, but very rarely is forked. The crown is broadly conic, while the brownish bark is scaly and deeply fissured, especially with age. The seed cones are ovoid in shape and typically measure 1.5- 2.5 cm (0.6-1 in) in length and 1- 1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in) in width.

Habitat:

Native to eastern North America. Seen at NC Botanical Garden.