Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata
Height50 to 70 ftSpread15 to 25 ftGrowth1 to 2 ft / yrZones5 to 8
Low maintenance1 / 5
Western hemlocks with Mount Rainier behind · Photo: Alex O'Neal, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo credits
- Western hemlocks with Mount Rainier behind. Photo by Alex O'Neal, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Drooping western hemlock branches. Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Western hemlock cone. Photo by Peter Stevens from Seattle, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Underside of western hemlock needles. Photo by Kollibri1969, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Evergreen conifer
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla
The state tree of Washington, with fine, soft needles and a drooping tip. The most shade tolerant conifer on this list.
- Max height
- 100 ft
- Typical height
- 70 to 100 ft
- Spread
- 20 to 30 ft
- Growth per year
- 1 to 2 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Light
- Sun to full shade
- Hardiness zones
- 6 to 8
- Native to
- Pacific coast of North America, Alaska to northern California
MaintenanceModerate
Needs moist soil and regular summer water. Can be sheared as a hedge while young.
See it at scale
Western Hemlock, up to 100 ft tall and 30 ft wide
Compare with
Similar trees
Same use, closest in size
Leyland Cypress
Cupressus x leylandii
Height60 to 70 ftSpread15 to 25 ftGrowth3 to 4 ft / yrZones6 to 10
High maintenance
Incense Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
Height50 to 70 ftSpread10 to 15 ftGrowth1 to 2 ft / yrZones5 to 8
Low maintenance