Western Hemlock

Also known as Pacific Hemlock, Western Hemlock-Spruce

Western hemlocks dominate the dense, mossy rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, easily recognized by their gracefully drooping top branches and flat, feathery sprays of needles. These massive conifers are exceptionally shade-tolerant, allowing seedlings to sprout on decaying nurse logs and grow slowly beneath a closed canopy for decades. Over centuries, they shape the forest structure, providing vital nesting habitat for northern spotted owls and winter shelter for herds of elk.