By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – The hemlock found in North Carolina is a towering, majestic tree that can live for hundreds of years. The Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and the Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) are the two species that have grown for centuries in the Tar Heel State. They are part of the pine family.
However, hemlock trees have suffered in North Carolina for the last few decades because of an invasion of the hemlock woolly adelgid. This pest sucks the life out of the tree. Eastern and Carolina hemlocks once thrived in the mountains and Piedmont regions of the state, with the Carolina hemlock native to the mountains.
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Native Americans considered the hemlock the tree of life because it provided food, medicine and materials to sustain life. There are many other legends about the hemlock across cultures.
I can remember enjoying the outdoors at Camp Chestnut Ridge near Hillsborough as a child. As the name implies, this was once home to the American chestnut, which was wiped out by blight across the country in the 1930s. Unfortunately, there are no longer chestnut trees there.
In the 1960s, my camp counselor pointed out a few Eastern hemlocks along the trails and streams. As far as I know, none exist now at the place where, years later, I met my future wife, Melissa.
There is at least one magical place where the Eastern hemlock still exists. Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Wake County is a refuge for plants that typically thrive in the mountains of North Carolina. This enchanting place features cool, steep, north-facing bluffs along Swift Creek. The 140-acre preserve feels almost enchanted — and I believe it.
The hemlock tree is quite different from the herbaceous plant poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which is highly toxic and associated with the death of Socrates.
Despite the challenges, hemlocks can still be grown in the mountains and in cooler parts of the Piedmont. They prefer conditions similar to those found at Hemlock Bluffs — a slope with full shade and moist, well-drained soil. This tree will not tolerate drought.
There are a couple of streams that run through my neighborhood that might provide suitable conditions. Another critical factor is chemical treatment to prevent adelgid infestation. I would advise hiring a professional for treatment every five to seven years. Other diseases can affect this tree as well, but it is the risk you take to grow one of these splendid giants.
Hemlocks are comparable to redwoods in stature, reaching heights of 70 to 150 feet in ideal mountainous conditions. The tallest hemlock ever recorded in North Carolina stood in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains before succumbing to adelgid infestation in 2007.
When planting, the root ball should not be set deeper than its original depth. The hole should be twice the diameter of the root ball. Add composted material such as North Carolina-based Daddy Pete’s. Hemlocks prefer a neutral pH but will tolerate slightly acidic soil.
Water thoroughly and backfill with native soil. Tamp the soil to remove air pockets, which can interfere with drainage and damage roots. Add about three inches of mulch — hardwood, pine straw or bark — to help retain moisture and protect the root system. Do not overdo it, and keep mulch pulled away from the trunk.
If you have the right conditions and the patience to care for one, your local garden center may be able to source a hemlock for you. Good luck — it is a noble effort for a truly noble tree.