The leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1–4.5 centimetres (3⁄8–1+3⁄4 in) long and 2 millimetres (1⁄16 in) wide by 0.5 mm (1⁄32 in) thick, dark green above,[4] and with two white bands of stomata below, and slightly notched at the tip.

The brownish winged seeds are 3.5 mm (1⁄8 in) long[4] and released when the cones disintegrate at maturity about 6–7 months after pollination.

[8] Western hemlock is equally shade tolerant, but Pacific silver fir saplings are more resilient of ground obstacles.

[5] It survives well at high elevation, but eventually succumbs to root or heart rot, in addition to diseases and insects such as Adelges piceae.

[5] On northeastern Vancouver Island, Pacific silver fir grows along with western hemlock in dense forests with sparse understory vegetation.

The two forest types occur in areas with very similar environmental conditions and are separated by sharp boundaries, often less than 10 m (33 ft) wide.

[5] Ethnobotanist Daniel Moerman notes, for example, that Nuxalk Peoples mixed mountain goat tallow with liquid pitch to treat sore throat.

[10] The wood is soft and not very strong; settlers thus tended to use this species for paper making, packing crates, and other cheap construction work.