Mountain Hemlock

Ecology

Mountain hemlock is tolerant of shade and other forms of competition. It is more shade-tolerant than all of its associates except Pacific silver fir, western hemlock, and Alaska cedar. Mountain hemlock is considered a minor climax species on most of its habitats, and pioneers on glacial moraines in British Columbia and Alaska. In many communities of the mountain hemlock forest in British Columbia and Washington and northern Oregon, Pacific silver fir is a major climax species. Alaska cedar, western redcedar, and western hemlock are climax associates on some sites. Mountain hemlock is more commonly the major climax species in the mountain hemlock zone south of central Oregon where Pacific silver fir does not occur.