Hemlock Tree Leaf Identification
Evergreen hemlock trees are found in Canada and the eastern United States. They are unrelated to the poisonous plant, the hemlock. There are three different varieties of hemlock tree and several features to check when identifying them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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The eastern hemlock is the state tree of Pennsylvania; it's common in Canada and in parts of eastern North America. The Carolina hemlock is found principally in the southeastern United States, while the western hemlock is found in western North America.
Features
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All three varieties are conifers, so their leaves are needles. The needle of an eastern hemlock is about 1/2-inch long and dark green on top with two white bands on its underside. The Carolina hemlock is similar, but the needles are longer--about 3/4-inch--and fatter, with two parallel sides. The western hemlock's needles are also about 3/4-inch long and have the same coloration as its relatives.
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Other Marks
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The needles of the eastern hemlock have a rounded tip and lie flat on either side of the twig, while the needles of the Carolina hemlock are positioned at random angles with respect to each other. The western hemlock has needles arranged on either side like the eastern hemlock.
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