Washington selected the western hemlock as its state tree in 1947 after an Oregon newspaper mocked the state for not having one. The tree is long-lived and can resist woolly adelgid, a pest that damages other hemlock trees. It is also a significant source of timber and was used by Native Americans for dye and tea.
The derision of an Oregon newspaper prompted Washington to select its state tree in 1947. The previous year, The Oregonian had chastised the neighboring state of Oregon for not having an official tree and decided that western hemlock would be a good choice as a Washington state tree. Angered by Oregon’s conceit, Washington newspapers chafed at the suggestion and made a personal selection, Western Red Cedar. George Adams, a Washington state representative, favored western hemlock despite the fact that the suggestion came from Oregon, and he convinced fellow lawmakers to agree with him and make western hemlock the state tree of Washington.
The Washington state tree is the largest variety of hemlock and is also known as Tsuga heterophylla. This tree is long-lived, and some 1,200-year-old western hemlocks have been discovered. It has been known to reach nearly 256 feet (78 meters), but usually averages 164 feet (about 50 meters) to nearly 230 feet (about 70 meters). Along the west coast, its native range extends from California to Alaska, and its habitat extends to Montana in the east.
Western hemlock is a species native to the Pacific Northwest, where it grows rapidly. The Washington state tree can also grow on the east coast of the United States, but its growth is slower in this area. It is a significant source of timber in the Northwest. This tree has the advantage over other hemlock trees in that it can usually resist an insect pest known as woolly adelgid. This insect can damage other types of trees in this family, including Carolina hemlock and Canadian hemlock.
Coast hemlock, Pacific hemlock, lowland hemlock, and west coast hemlock are all alternative names for the Washington state tree. Native Americans called Salish used its bark to make a red dye. They used it for cosmetic purposes as well as dyeing baskets and dyeing wool, wood for combs and cutlery. Native Americans also used the buds and leaves to make a tea. Today, western hemlock wood is used for railway ties, posts, and construction.
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