Canada hemlock is native to eastern North America. Hemlocks live up to 800 years.
Many cultivated varieties have been
developed. These trees are under attack by hemlock woolly adelgids(Adelges tsugae), aphidlike insects first
seen in North America in 1924. Although the insects themselves are black, they are nearly invisible;
the infestation is visible from their white nests, as shown in some of the photos here.
Identification: Trees are pyramidal, 60-70′ (18-21 m) high, with a
maximum recorded height of 159′ (48 m). They favor moist, well drained soils. The bark is initially smooth,
becoming flaky and scaly over time. Eventually it forms wide flat ridges. Individual needles are flat, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long,
glossy green on top, silvery gray beneath. The needles feel soft and have blunt tips.
Male flowers are small, round, and yellow. Female flowers are light green, appearing at branch tips.
Both types of flowers are easy to miss.
Cones are oval in shape, up to ¾″ (1.9 cm) ×
½″ (1.3 cm).
11/3/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts
This hemlock is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). You can see two of the tiny black insects in this close-up. · 7/6/2012 · Littleton, Massachusetts
11/22/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
10/3/2010 · Dingmans Falls, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania