Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Pine Family — Hemlock Genus
Gilbertville, New York
Circumference = 226.5 inches (18.9 feet)
Height = 89.5 feet
Average Crown Spread = 56 feet
Total Points = 330
Nominated: 2002
by: David Yarrow
| Candidate Champion
| Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis Pine Family — Hemlock Genus Gilbertville, New York Circumference = 226.5 inches (18.9 feet)
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The Eastern Hemlock, also called "Canada Hemlock" or "Hemlock Spruce," is an attractive, graceful tree with delicate architecture. An evergreen, with compact, conical crown of short, stout, often drooping branches, and very slender, drooping leader. This medium to large size tree normally thrives in cool, moist valleys and ravines in the Northeast, northern Midwest and Appalachian Mountains. Generally a lowland tree, it can be found at elevations up to 5,600 feet. Although dense, pure stands are found, it is more common with white pine, yellow birch, and red or white spruce.
Slow-growing yet long-lived, the Eastern Hemlock may approach 1,000 years of age. It takes 20 to 40 years for a tree to begin seed production. Once started, a heavy seed crop is usually followed by 2 or 3 years of light seed crops.
This is a classic tree in a climax forest in the eastern United States. Unlike many trees, the Eastern Hemlock grows best in shade rather than full sun. This shade-loving tree appears late in a forest sucession, growing slowly in the dim understory. However, litter from branches and leaves gradually creates acid soil, which disourages competition from other plants. Eventually this late-comer reaches the sunlit canopy, where it grows rapidly to become a dominant tree in many old growth forests.
The dense evergreen foliage provides excellent habitat for ruffed grouse wild turkey and whitetail deer. Deer may browse the trees during heavy snowfalls. Black-called chickadee, pine siskin and crossbills depend on the Eastern Hemlock for protection and food. Snowshoe rabbits browse the seedlings and porcupines eat the bark.
Perched at the top of a stream bank, this ancient Eastern Hemlock north of Gilbertville in south central New York is the matriarch of a small forest family. A sign declaring "one of the oldest living hemlock trees in New York State" is testimony to the great affection and respect the tree's owners hold for this stately, venerable specimen. The grand, awesome presence of this elder emanates a hushed, reverent atmosphere that has become a local shrine, with a path worn from the roadside through the woods to the tree.
| Identification & Culture |
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Although the Gilbertville tree has now has aged beyond its normal span of years and and is slowly dying, it is still the queen of her domain.
Eastern Hemlock wood is moderately lightweight, light reddish-brown, coarse-grained, weak, and splits easily. This poor quality wood is used only occasionally in rough, general construction. In fireplaces and campfires, it tends to pop, sending sparks flying. Bark was once used widely for tanning leather. Pioneers made tea from the leafy twigs, and brooms from the branches. This graceful shade tree is an ornamental, and is also trimmed into hedges.