Tsuga diversifolia, commonly known as Northern Japanese Hemlock, is an evergreen tree native to the cool temperate forests of Japan, often found on moist, shaded mountain ridges. It can reach heights of up to 25 meters (80 feet) with a narrow, dense, and conical crown. The young shoots are short and palely pubescent, displaying a bright orange to red-brown color. The needles are linear-oblong, 5 to 15 mm long, and up to 2.4 mm wide, presenting a dark green, glossy, and furrowed appearance on the upper side with two distinct chalk white stomatal bands on the underside. The bark of Northern Japanese Hemlock is orange-brown, shallowly fissured, and peels vertically. Buds are deep purple-red, while the dull purple, ovoid pistillate flowers are terminal on shoots, maturing to pale green with purple accents. The cones are dark brown, pendulous, cylindric-ovoid, nearly sessile, and measure 1.8 to 2.8 cm long with slightly convex, ridged scales.

This species is valued for its graceful form and the textural contrast its foliage provides in shaded garden settings. It is suitable for use as a specimen tree, in woodland gardens, or as a part of mixed conifer collections. Northern Japanese Hemlock requires part shade to full shade, consistent medium moisture, and well-drained soils to thrive. It is relatively low-maintenance once established but can be susceptible to pests such as hemlock woolly adelgid, which can be a serious threat requiring management.CC BY-SA 4.0