Western Hem-Fir

The Hem-Fir Species Combination

Hem-Fir is a species combination of Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and five of the true firs: California Red fir (Abies magnifica), Grand fir (Abies grandis), Noble fir (Abies procera), Pacific Silver fir (Abies amabilis), and White fir (Abies concolor). Although distinctly different as trees, the timber from all of these softwood species is light in colour, finely grained and, most significantly for engineering, interchangeable in structural performance. Thus, these species are marketed together to simplify inventories and facilitate product specification for design. 

Hem-Fir accounts for approximately 22% of timber production from the western U.S., second only to Douglas fir in terms of abundance, production volumes, strength, and versatility in end use.

Growing Region & Production

The Hem-Fir species grow intermingled in stands along the Pacific Coast, from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to northwestern California. They also grow inland, scattered along the U.S.-Canadian border as far eastward as northwestern Montana. The frequent fogs and rains in the Coast Range and on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska produce the largest stands. 

More than half of the total forestlands in the Western Region are protected from harvesting through legislative, administrative or judicial withdrawals. These protected forestlands are set aside in parks, scenic reserves, wilderness areas, habitat reserves and research areas to ensure a multiplicity of forest values in perpetuity. All commercial timberlands are governed by stringent local and state laws related to harvesting and forestland management practices, reforestation requirements, protection for habitat, watersheds and soils, and biological diversity.

Characteristics, Grades & Best Uses

Hem-Fir is a perfect combination of strength and beauty and is considered by many as the most elegant and versatile of the softwood species combinations. The timber is bright in colour, varying from a creamy, nearly-white to a light, straw-brown colour. Often as light or lighter than are some of the western pines, and with little variation between the heartwood and sapwood, Hem-Fir is very desirable to those seeking a strong wood that is light in colour. Sometimes Western hemlock may have a slight lavender cast, especially around the knots and in the transition area between the springwood and summerwood growth rings. In addition, attractive, delicate, dark gray or black streaks may be apparent in this species. 

Hem-Fir products are available in all three of the basic categories for U.S. softwood timber grades: 

• structural framing products - visually graded and/or mechanically sorted for strength and physical working properties (appearance is secondary, unless specified);

• appearance products - graded for their aesthetic qualities in non-structural applications, ranging from the beautifully refined to the most utilitarian; 

• industrial and remanufacturing products - include a variety of structural and non-structural grades of which the largest volume for Hem-Fir is Factory & Shop timber.