The seldom-seen tree, endemic to the southern Appalachians, is at the northern extension of its small range that extends southwestward into the Carolinas, Tennessee, and northern Georgia.
Subtle differences help tree enthusiasts tell the two hemlocks apart.
Needles of the Carolina hemlock are spirally arranged on the branches, giving them a bottle-brush appearance, while needles of the Eastern hemlock lie flat in a single plane. Ruffed grouse eat hemlock seeds. Deer, red squirrels, and rabbits browse the twigs. Eclectic anonymous discussion forum for Dickenson County, Southwestern VA, the Mountain Empire, the Appalachians and beyond. Dickenson County Online - Internet portal for Dickenson County and surrounding area.