Woody > Tsuga > Tsuga chinensis > Tsuga chinensis var. forrestii
Tsuga chinensis
var. forrestii
Origin: China
Mike's
Opinion
"
An unknown but possibly endangered species of hemlock that is closely related to Tsuga chinensis, which is why it is still still debated as being its own species or just a variety. Forrest Hemlock has nice green foliage and dense cones that are appealing to look at, making this plant beneficial as an accent or specimen plant.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Tsuga |
| Species |
| chinensis |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| Variety |
| forrestii |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 7 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5b - 7b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-24) - (-17) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-10) - 0 |
| Height |
| 10 - 25 |
| Spread |
| 8 - 13 |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Tsuga forrestii is a medium to large sized evergreen tree with furrowed greyish-brown bark, and short green needles with a silver colour beneath them. |
| Landscape |
| This evergreen is not commonly found or used in landscapes, but it’s wood can be used in furniture, construction applications, and aircraft or vehicle parts. |
| Cultivation |
| Tsuga forrestii grows in higher altitudes with soils ranging from neutral to acidic, in shaded to sunny conditions. |
| Shape |
| Tsuga forrestii has an upright and broad shape with branches bending downwards. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Forrest Hemlock features thick green needles with a silvery underside, and tapered cones. |
| Pests |
| Could possibly be susceptible to the hemlock woolly adelgid, a sucking insect that affects hemlocks such as Tsuga chinensis which is closely related. |
| Habitat |
| This evergreen grows in high mountain ranges with moist and well drained soil and high levels of precipitation. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The young bark is an orangish-brown colour that is scale like. It becomes greyish-brown and more furrowed as it ages. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Leaf buds are 2 mm to 3 mm wide, with a globular shape and can be resinous with a brown colour. |
| Leaf Description |
| Green needles that are 5 mm - 25 mm long and 2 mm - 3 mm wide, are narrow and ovate and straight or curved. |
| Fruit Description |
| Cones are about 3 cm to 5 cm long and 1 cm to 3 cm wide and slender with a narrow and oval like shape to it that tapers at the end. Light green colour when young to a rich brown colour when matured. Cones start to form about one year after new growth and matures after another year. |
| Colour Description |
| Needles have a rich green colour on the top and silver beneath them. The bark has an orangish-brown to greyish-brown colour as it matures. |
| Texture Description |
| Has a medium to fine texture. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden features a specimen. |
| Propagation |
| Propagation likely follows similar methods to Tsuga chinensis, as this specific evergreen is very unknown. Possibly cuttings. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The inner bark can be ground up to use in cooking as a thickening agent. A herbal tea can be made from young shoots. |
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