Western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla(Raf.) Sarg.) seedlings grown in two different container cavity sizes that received four different dormancy induction treatments, short (SD) or long days (LD), in combination with moisture stress (D) or no moisture stress (W), in the greenhouse, and lifted and placed in cold storage (November, January, or March) were planted on two adjacent coastal reforestation sites on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and monitored for phenological responses during the first growing season. The SD seedlings flushed sooner and began bud development later than the LD seedlings, although the effect on flushing was small for those lifted in March. Moisture stress and SD together in the greenhouse reduced shoot elongation rates but had little impact on field bud development. Cold storage of seedlings lifted in November and January delayed flushing, reduced shoot elongation rates, and advanced bud development compared with the March-lifted stock. The influence of cavity size was generally small on most variables measured. Shoot elongation was slightly faster on the southeast site than on the northwest site, whereas bud development was more rapid on the northwest site. The effect of site on date of flushing varied with nursery treatment.