Distribution: Alaska to california, east to Montana; in both Olympics and Cascades in Washington
Habitat: Mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Cones: June - July
Origin: Native
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Erect trees to 40 m. tall, at higher elevations stunted, the leader usually drooping but sometimes erect.
Bark cracked and furrowed, dark purplish- or reddish-brown; young twigs strongly hairy with short and long hairs.
Leaves somewhat 4-sided, whitish on both surfaces, yellow-green to bluish-green, 12-20 mm. long, covering the branches on all sides, often upturned.
Staminate cones bluish, 3-4 mm. long, on short stalks near the branch tips; ovulate cones light or deep purple or brownish-purple, cylindric, 3-6 cm. long, single at the branch tips.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Tsuga mertensiana in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Tsuga mertensiana checklist entry.
E-Flora BC: Tsuga mertensiana atlas page.
CalPhotos: Tsuga mertensiana photos.
USDA Plants: Tsuga mertensiana information.