Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

Mountain Hemlock prefers cool, moist, mountain conditions. The gray-green foliage is displayed on branches that droop at the tips. Mountain Hemlock has needles that are blue-green on all surfaces, similar in size, and uniformly arranged around each twig. Needle clusters often have a star-like appearance. Cones are cylindrical and are 1 to 3 inches long. A slow-growing tree, it is good for containers, rock gardens, or even trained as bonsai. Growth is often slow at first becoming more rapid with age. Its early annual growth rate is less than 12 inches.