Hemlock is usually smaller than fir, with few exceptions. It can reach 33 to 197 feet in height (50 to 100 on average), while fir can reach height of 32 to 262 feet (100 to 150 on average). Hemlock has narrow, flat needles that are usually only one inch long.
What is the difference between a fir tree and a hemlock tree?
The evergreen foliage of fir trees differs from that of hemlocks. Hemlocks feature a narrow, flat, evergreen needle that tapers at its base to form a tiny stem, attaching to the twigs on what resembles a woody cushion. The needles on a fir tree appear plump or flat in a cross-section view.
Are hemlocks firs?
The western hemlock (T. heterophylla), also known as hemlock fir and Prince Albert’s fir, is a timber tree often 60 metres (200 feet) tall, with a trunk 1.8 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet) in diameter. Its wood is superior to that of all other hemlocks and compares favourably with that of pine and spruce.
What is hemlock wood good for?
Eastern hemlock is used primarily for lumber and paper pulp. About three-fourths of the hemlock lumber produced is used for light framing, sheathing, roofing, and subflooring.
How do you tell a western hemlock from a Douglas fir?
Hemlocks (Tsuga)
It is easy to distinguish them from other native conifers by their short, flat needles and by the drooping branches and drooping leaders at the top of each tree. The cones have rounded scales like Douglas fir, but don’t have bracts protruding from them.
Is hemlock as strong as Douglas Fir?
You might find some hem-fir with a slight lavender cast, which gives it a natural appeal. The lumber is also fine-grained and even textured. It has quite a number of knots, rings, and springs. Significantly, Hem-fir is quite strong and its strength is only slightly below that of Doug-fir.
Is hemlock a spruce?
Hemlock spruce is a plant. People use the needles and the oil distilled from the needles, branch tips, or branches of fresh fir shoots for medicine.
Which is stronger pine or hemlock?
It is much stronger and harder than pine. It is used as cribbing (jacking timbers) and in situations requiring high strength. Green hemlock is very heavy but is easily worked with tools. Once dry, hemlock is very difficult to work.
What is the difference between balsam fir and hemlock?
Bark – Hemlock bark is brown, cinnamon brown or even purple brown at maturity, vertically oriented in plates or furrows and similar to mature White Pine bark. Balsam Fir bark is grey, somewhat smooth often with raised blisters that when pressed will express resin.
Is Hem fir the same as hemlock?
Hem-Fir is a species combination of Western Hemlock and the true firs (Noble, California Red, Grand, Pacific Silver and White fir). With strength properties slightly below Douglas Fir-Larch, this is an extremely versatile species group and useful for multiple, general-purpose framing applications.
Is White Fir same as Douglas Fir?
The Douglas Fir’s one-inch long needles are also Flat, Friendly and Flexible. Unlike the White Fir, the Douglas Fir needles grow in all directions around the branch and can vary in different shades of green on a tree. One of its distinguishing characteristics is long shiny pointy brown buds.
Is hemlock better than cedar?
Cedar has microbial properties, which can help lead to detoxification. Hemlock, on the other hand, is an adequate insulator as well. It is nontoxic and odorless, which appeals to some customers. Hemlock is a stronger wood than cedar, and it resists decay.
Is hemlock wood good for outdoors?
Western hemlock, with its straight grain and finer texture, sands to a silky, reflective smoothness. Because the western variety is resin-free, it accepts any paint, stain, or clear finish with more satisfying results than the eastern species. Don’t use either hemlock species outdoors without preservative treatment.
Can hemlock be used for framing?
As a building material it is good for framing, sheathing, and I have seen some nice furniture pieces made out of hemlock. Strength wise eastern hemlock has better performance numbers than spruce both red and white and balsam fir. I have made several buildings using hemlock for framing and siding.
How do I know if I have hemlock?
Poison-hemlock stems have reddish or purple spots and streaks, are not hairy, and are hollow. Leaves are bright green, fern-like, finely divided, toothed on edges and have a strong musty odor when crushed. Flowers are tiny, white and arranged in small, umbrella-shaped clusters on ends of branched stems.
Is hemlock a pine?
Eastern hemlock is a woody, needled evergreen tree in the Pinaceae (pine) family.
What is a hemlock tree look like?
Hemlock trees are dark green (and often appear darker than pines) and have somewhat droopy, lacy-looking branches. They can be found in beech-maple forests, coniferous swamps, forested dunes (usually north facing), and along river corridors.
