{"id":"tsuga-caroliniana","license":"CC-BY-4.0","data":{"scientificName":"Tsuga caroliniana","commonNames":["Carolina hemlock"],"taxonRank":"species","acceptedName":"Tsuga caroliniana","family":"Pinaceae","ids":{"usdaSymbol":"TSCA2","gbifKey":2687245,"itisTsn":183399,"wikidataQid":"Q1044374","inatTaxonId":135556},"usdaZoneMin":"5a","zoneSource":"fps-2016","states":["DC","DE","GA","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","SC","TN","VA","WV"],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["GA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 GEO — Georgia"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NCA — North Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["SC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 SCA — South Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["TN"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 TEN — Tennessee"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["VA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 VRG — Virginia"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"}],"hardinessAssertions":[{"minimum":"5","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"tsuga-caroliniana","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"},{"minimum":"7a","interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"derived-containing-band","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":2,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"TSCA2","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 15605, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}],"plantForm":"tree","matureHeightFt":50,"waterNeed":"moderate","photo":{"file":"/images/plants/tsuga-caroliniana.jpg","sourceUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/229227208","observationUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134485325","license":"cc-by","attribution":"(c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY)","fetchedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},"evidence":[{"source":"fps-eastern-us","verdict":"avoid","verdictRaw":"NOT Firewise (4)","claims":"Dark green flat needle with two white strips on underside. Needles encircle the branches rather in a single plane as with Canadian hemlock. Found scattered in southern most range of with Canadian hemlock -hemlock adelgid destroying natural stands in region.","sourcePlacement":{"value":"LZ3","scheme":"fps-landscape-zone"},"edition":"2016-wayback","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"osu-b921","verdict":"avoid","verdictRaw":"H flammability","claims":"Very environmentally site specific; two exotic pests may be a concern in the future.","sourcePlacement":{"value":"keep 30 ft from the home (Zone 3)","scheme":"b921-siting"},"edition":"2006","url":"http://web.archive.org/web/20070714035936/http://www.firewise.org/usa/files/ohio_plantlist.pdf","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"va-firescapes","verdict":"avoid","verdictRaw":"H flammability","claims":"Will not tolerate drought, requires good drainage.","edition":"2009","url":"http://web.archive.org/web/20090709143736/http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-300/430-300.pdf","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"fenz-low-flammability","verdict":"mixed","verdictRaw":"Moderate flammability","claims":"Moderate flammability classification.","plantPart":"shoot","edition":"2026","url":"https://www.checkitsalright.nz/reduce-your-risk/low-flammability-plants","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"}],"flammabilityClass":"highly-flammable","ratingReason":"limited-evidence","recommendation":"avoid","author":"grayson-graham","reviewStatus":"draft","lastVerified":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z","reviewNotes":"Photo auto-selected (top-voted iNat); human review pending."},"localAssessmentInputs":{"stateDistribution":["DC","DE","GA","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","SC","TN","VA","WV"],"nativeStates":[],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["GA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 GEO — Georgia"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NCA — North Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["SC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 SCA — South Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["TN"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 TEN — Tennessee"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"native","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["VA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 VRG — Virginia"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"documented-occurrence","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["DC","DE","GA","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","SC","TN","VA","WV"]},"provenance":"legacy-field"}],"usdaZoneMin":"5a","usdaZoneMax":null,"hardinessAssertions":[{"minimum":"5","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"tsuga-caroliniana","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"minimum":"7a","interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"derived-containing-band","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":2,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"TSCA2","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 15605, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}],"hardinessSelection":{"status":"selected","assertion":{"minimum":"7a","interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"derived-containing-band","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":2,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"TSCA2","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 15605, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},"assertions":[{"minimum":"5","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"tsuga-caroliniana","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"minimum":"7a","interpretation":"minimum-threshold","precision":"half-zone","zoneMapping":"derived-containing-band","sourceMeasurement":{"kind":"minimum-temperature","value":2,"unit":"degrees-fahrenheit"},"applicability":"applicable","source":"usda-plants-characteristics","sourceRecordId":"TSCA2","sourceTaxon":"Tsuga caroliniana","taxonMatch":"source-identifier","sourcePlacement":"PlantCharacteristics record 15605, Temperature, Minimum (°F)","sourceVersion":"PLANTS Help Document 2022; characteristics cache retrieved 2026-08-23","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}]},"invasiveIn":[],"statusAssertions":[],"fireEvidenceClass":"highly-flammable","recommendation":"avoid","fireSourceScopes":[{"source":"osu-b921","sourceName":"Firewise Landscaping (OSU Extension Bulletin 921)","sourceUrl":"http://web.archive.org/web/20070714035936/http://www.firewise.org/usa/files/ohio_plantlist.pdf","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["OH"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 921 is an Ohio publication that describes Ohio fire seasons and landscape conditions and labels nativity to Ohio. FireApproved publishes 352 exact source-owning plant records from its eight rated tables. This historical publication scope does not assert current extension endorsement or that a listed plant suits every Ohio site.","sourceVersion":"OSU-Extension-Bulletin-921-2006","asOf":"2006-03-01T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"va-firescapes","sourceName":"Virginia Firescapes — Firewise Landscaping for Woodland Homes (430-300)","sourceUrl":"http://web.archive.org/web/20090709143736/http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-300/430-300.pdf","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["VA"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"Virginia Cooperative Extension's publication opens with Virginia wildfire conditions, identifies its Virginia Firewise Landscaping Task Force, and labels plants native to Virginia. FireApproved publishes 306 exact source owners. Publication scope does not establish parcel suitability or current endorsement of this archived 2009 list.","sourceVersion":"Virginia-VCE-430-300-2009","asOf":"2009-04-15T00:00:00.000Z"}],"firePerformanceConditions":[],"maintenanceAssertions":[],"maintenanceConditions":null,"regulatoryReviews":{},"seedReviews":{}},"legacyCompatibilityProjection":{"nativeStates":["GA","NC","SC","TN","VA"],"invasiveIn":[],"usdaZoneMin":"7a"},"localAssessmentContract":"Compare each dimension separately. State noxious-weed seed designations are material-scoped and never become non-seed plant restrictions, ecological-invasive findings, nursery restrictions, alternatives, product evidence, or fire votes. Introduced/established context is not an invasive warning. Minimum-only hardiness has no inferred maximum; canonical source-temperature conversion is validated and contradictory applicable rows project no primary zone. L48 context applies only to conterminous states and is never exact-state status. Fire-performance conditions are not maintenance advice. FEIS fire-ecology context does not vote in the plant classification. Absence of a status row is not regulatory clearance."}