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Summary

Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.

Physical Characteristics

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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark Shoots
Edible Uses: Tea

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[161]. It is best used in the spring[172]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[183]. A herbal tea is made from the young leaves and shoot tips[172, 183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent Diaphoretic Diuretic Poultice

The bark is astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic[21]. 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[21, 257]. It can also be used as a gargle or mouthwash for mouth and throat problems or externally to wash sores and ulcers[21]. The powdered bark can be put into shoes for tender or sweaty feet or for foot odour[21]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used to treat burns[257]. The warm gum obtained from the trunks has been used as a dressing on cuts[257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye Hedge Hedge Incense Pot-pourri Resin Tannin Wood

The slightly unripe cones are used in pot-pourri. They retain an attractive scent for several years[200]. Yields a resin similar to Abies balsamea, it is gathered by incisions in the trunk or by boiling the wood[46, 61, 64]. The bark contains 8 - 14% tannin[46, 171]. The inner bark is used according to one report[82]. A brown dye is obtained from the bark[21, 46]. The boughs are steamed or rubbed on furniture and used as a room deodorant and disinfectant[257]. A pitch (called hemlock pitch), is obtained by distillation of the young branches[46]. Tolerant of light trimming, plants can be grown as a tall hedge[29, 81]. Wood - strong[171]. Used for heavy construction[171]. 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[82, 229].

Special Uses

Hedge Hedge

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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[11]. However, it succeeds in most soils and positions, being especially good on acidic sandy soils[81]. Plants are very shade tolerant when young, but need more sunlight as they grow older[81, 200]. Plants are thin and poor when grown in dry or exposed places[200]. Dislikes atmospheric pollution[82]. A very ornamental plant[11], 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[185]. Trees live 400 - 500 years in the wild[229]. They commence bearing seeds when about 20 - 30 years old, years of high production alternating with years of low production[229]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - it germinates better if given a short cold stratification[80, 113] 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[78]. 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[200]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas Fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir	Tree	75.0	3-6	F	LMH	N	MWe	2	2	3
Tsuga canadensis	Canadian Hemlock, Eastern hemlock	Tree	20.0	4-7	M	LMH	FSN	M	1	3	2
Tsuga caroliniana	Carolina Hemlock	Tree	15.0	4-7	S	LMH	FSN	M	1	2	2
Tsuga chinensis	Chinese Hemlock	Tree	45.0	5-9	S	LMH	FSN	M	1	2	2
Tsuga heterophylla	Western Hemlock	Tree	70.0	6-7	F	LMH	FSN	M	1	2	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Tsuga mertensiana - (Bong.)Carrière.