Tsuga

Originating from the cool temperate regions of North America and the Far East, Tsugas belong to the pinaceae family and in various aspects resemble spruces, even though they are not. Often called Hemlock or Canadian Firs, they are cultivated for their elegance and beautiful evergreen foliage. Their shoots are light brown and fuzzy, their needles quite short, soft, flat, and blunt. The cones are ovoid when mature, attached to a short stalk, and covered with round and whole scales. When crushed, the foliage emits a characteristic odour reminiscent of that of water hemlock, which may not appeal to those with a sensitive sense of smell.