Western Hemlock
Western hemlocks can survive at 10-30% full sunlight, waiting decades under a closed canopy for a large tree to fall and create a light gap.
Western hemlocks can survive at 10-30% full sunlight, waiting decades under a closed canopy for a large tree to fall and create a light gap. Approximately 70% of western hemlock seedlings in old-growth Pacific Northwest forests establish on nurse logs - fallen trees slowly decomposing. They grow slowly but live extraordinarily long, representing the late-successional strategy: patience over speed, longevity over rapid reproduction.
This is the climax species that succession progresses toward. Along Mount St. Helens' blast zone and across Pacific Northwest forests, western hemlocks are now replacing the early successional pioneers like alder and fireweed that colonized immediately after disturbance. They cannot compete with pioneers in open, high-light environments. But they can do what pioneers cannot: establish under canopy, then slowly grow into gaps when pioneers die. When succession reaches its endpoint, shade-tolerant species like western hemlock dominate because they alone can regenerate in their own shade.
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Notable Traits of Western Hemlock
- Intermediate shade tolerance
- 70% establish on nurse logs
- Waits decades for light gaps
- Late-successional species
- Shade tolerant
- Extremely shade-tolerant
- Climax species
- Thrives where pioneers die
Western Hemlock Appears in 3 Chapters
Intermediate shade tolerance species surviving at 10-30% full sunlight. Can establish under canopy if light gaps appear periodically. Approximately 70% of seedlings establish on nurse logs in old-growth forests.
Learn about shade tolerance strategies →Late-successional conifer now replacing early successional trees in the Mount St. Helens blast zone. Along with Douglas fir, represents the mature forest community that succession progresses toward.
Explore late-successional replacement →Shade-tolerant climax species dominating old-growth Pacific Northwest forests. Western hemlocks establish under canopy, grow into gaps when pioneers die. They represent late-succession: slow growth but extremely long-lived.
Discover climax forest dynamics →