The bark is gray to reddish-brown, often tinged with orange, and separated into flat connected ridges. The wood is light, soft, durable, brittle, coarse-grained, and fragrant. It is used for posts, rails, shingles, and pulpwood. This species is a favorite source of browse for deer and rabbits in northern swamps. Good for hedges and wind breaks.
Cones are roughly oval, - inch long, with scales about as wide as long.
The pendant cones usually remain on the tree until the following spring. Hemlock is remarkably tolerant to shading by overstory trees, and may remain in the understory in natural stands for 25 - 200 years. It often has a broad-based pyramidal shape. The wood is light, soft, brittle, and difficult to work. It is used occasionally for rough or construction lumber and for pulpwood.