Tsuga heterophylla

Western hemlock is in the pine or Pinaceae family and is native to the west coast of North America, ranging from its northern boundary of the central coast of Alaska to northern California. It grows as a climax species on the wet slopes and valley bottoms of the coastal temperate rainforest, often growing in the understory of Douglas-fir or Sitka spruce, sometimes eventually replacing them. It can reach up to 70 m tall and 2.7 m in diameter.

There also is an inland population in southeast British Columbia and down into Idaho and Montana, likely surviving from the last ice age when glaciers covered the lower areas.

• Crown is narrow, or irregular with age; top has a drooping leader.
• Needle-like leaves are 10–20 mm long, flat and thin, irregularly spaced and of unequal length, appearing 2-ranked.
• Species is monoecious; male cones are yellow, 3–4 mm long and occur on previous year's growth; female cones are tiny, purple, and on terminals of twigs.
• Mature cones are very plentiful, small ovoid, 2– 2.5 cm long, and 7–8 mm wide when closed, opening to 1.8–2.5 cm, maturing from green to brown.
• Buds are ovoid, grayish-brown, and 2.5–3.5 mm long; bark is brown, thin and furrowed, revealing purplish inner bark when cracked or cut.