Tsuga mertensiana aka Mountain Hemlock
Taxonomy
Tsuga mertensiana, commonly known as Mountain Hemlock, is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Tulare County, California. It is a large tree, with adult specimens reaching heights of up to 59 m (194 ft). Its bark is thin and square-cracked or furrowed, and grey in color, and its crown shape is conic in young trees, becoming cylindric in older specimens. Needles are bluish-green in color, 7 to 25 mm (0.3 to 1 in) long, arranged spirally all around the shoot. Cones are small and cylindrical, 30 to 80 mm (1 to 3 in) long, with thin, flexible scales 8 to 18 mm (5⁄16 to 11⁄16 in) long. Mountain Hemlock is an uncommon houseplant, which needs regular watering and should be situated in a bright spot no more than 1 foot away from a window. It should be planted in well draining soil, and should not need added fertilizers if you repot it each time it doubles in size.
Common names
Mountain Hemlock, Alpine Hemlock, Black Hemlock, Hemlock SpruceHow to care for Mountain Hemlock
Difficulty
Caring for Mountain Hemlock is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.
Water
Mountain Hemlock should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Soil
Mountain Hemlock loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
Toxicity
Ploi lacks confirmed information on the toxicity of this plant. If you, a relative, or your pet accidentally consume plant material with unknown toxicity, it's best to consult a medical expert.
Fertilizer
The Mountain Hemlock grows at a slow pace and doesn't require any supplementary fertilizers. By renewing its potting soil once a year, it should receive enough nourishment. Remember, plants obtain their energy from sunlight, not fertilizers.
Region of origin
Mountain Hemlock’s native range is Western N. America - Alaska to California.
More info:
Wikipedia
