Mountain Hemlock, (tsuga mertensiana)
SKU:
£1.75
£1.75 - £42.00
per item
Seed Prices
0.5 gram (approx 80 seeds) £1.75
1 gram (approx 160 seeds) £2.65
2 grams (approx 320 seeds) £4.50
5 grams (approx 800 seeds) £10.25
10 grams (approx 1600 seeds) £18.00
25 grams (approx 4000 seeds) £42.00
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Mountain hemlock is a tree of the upper slopes of the mountains of western North America, its range extending from Alaska to California. It grows in moist soils in forests, thin-peated spruce mires and rocky areas, favouring cool, moist, northern slopes.
It is often considered the beauty of the genus. Unlike the other species, mountain hemlock’s concave needles are the same colour on both surfaces and spread in all directions. This gives the tree an attractive, fluffy, cedar-like appearance.
The needles are wax-covered and the tree generally bluish in colour, with some provenances a strong blue-grey. The cones, looking rather like spruce cones, are larger than those of the other hemlocks.
It is often considered the beauty of the genus. Unlike the other species, mountain hemlock’s concave needles are the same colour on both surfaces and spread in all directions. This gives the tree an attractive, fluffy, cedar-like appearance.
The needles are wax-covered and the tree generally bluish in colour, with some provenances a strong blue-grey. The cones, looking rather like spruce cones, are larger than those of the other hemlocks.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Mountain Hemlock (tsuga mertensiana)
Mountain Hemlock seeds are relatively easy to germinate and grow. The dormancy within the seed is short and easily broken. This is achieved by a short period of cold stratification in the fridge.
First soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. Fully drain away all of the water and place the seeds in a zip-lock freezer bag. Place the seeds in the fridge at around 4 Celsius, it is important that during this period that the seeds do not dry out or are waterlogged otherwise the pre-treatment will be ineffective.
After 6 weeks under these conditions the seeds are ready to be sown. It is possible for seed to begin germination at these low temperatures before the end of the pre-treatment period. If this happens you can sow the seed immediately.
In general, the seeds will fail to germinate unless treated in this way, simply sowing untreated seeds in compost at room temperature will not break down the dormancy and germination will be disappointing.
Fill your chosen container with a good quality general potting compost. Suitable containers could be plant pots, seed trays or plug trays or even improvised containers with drainage holes. Firm the compost gently and sow the seeds on the surface. If you are sowing in plug trays, sow 2 or 3 seeds per cell.
Cover the seeds with a couple of millimeters of vermiculite or failing that a fine layer of sieved compost. Follow with a gentle watering and keep them at room temperature.
Germination will begin a few weeks from sowing. The seedlings are reasonably robust and trouble free and usually grow to a height of between 3 and 6 cm in the first growing season depending on the sowing date and cultural techniques.
Densely sown seedlings are at risk from fungal diseases such as “damping off” which can cause rapid loss of many seedlings.
Newly germinated seedlings need to be shaded from full sun for the first growing season, keep them well watered and free of competing weeds. Growth will accelerate in the second and subsequent years and the developing young trees should be re-potted as necessary preferably during the dormant season.
After 3 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position
