General: Large, to 70 m tall (sometimes 80-90 m); crown of young trees pyramidal with a stiffly erect leader; branches spreading to drooping; buds sharply pointed; bark ultimately very thick, fluted, ridged, rough and dark brown.
Leaves: Needles flat, yellowish-green, 2-3 cm long, with pointed tips, 1 groove on upper surface and 2 white bands of stomata on lower surface, spirally arranged, leave small, flat scar on twig upon falling; buds sharp-pointed.
Cones: Pollen cones small, reddish-brown; young seed cones hanging, oval 5-10 cm long, green at flowering, turning reddish-brown to grey; scales papery; bracts prominently 3 forked, extend beyond scales (look for 'mice' hiding in the cones - the bracts are their hind feet and tails).
Ecology: From extremely dry, low elevation sites to moist montane sites; on the outer south coast it is replaced by western hemlock except on dry, rocky sites or in areas influenced by fire.