TSUGA CANADENSIS / EASTERN HEMLOCK

TSUGA CANADENSIS / CANADIAN HEMLOCK

A Native Evergreen Tree with Elegant Form and Year-Round Interest

Tsuga canadensis, commonly known as Canadian Hemlock or Eastern Hemlock, is a native evergreen tree admired for its graceful, drooping branches, soft dark green needles, and dense foliage. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soils, Canadian Hemlock is ideal for shade gardens, hedges, naturalized landscapes, and wildlife plantings. Its elegant form and year-round greenery make it a standout native evergreen.

Why Choose Canadian Hemlock?

Evergreen Foliage: Dense, dark green needles provide year-round structure and color.
Wildlife Friendly: Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.
Shade Tolerant: Performs well in full sun to deep shade.
Low Maintenance & Hardy: Resilient and long-lived with minimal care.

Key Features:

Foliage Color: Dark green, soft needles; maintains color throughout winter.
Flower/Cones: Small, inconspicuous cones appear in late summer to fall.
Height and Spread: Typically grows 40–70 feet tall and 20–40 feet wide.
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zones 3–7.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soils; tolerates loam, clay, or sandy soils.

Specifications:

Plant Size: 40–70 feet tall, 20–40 feet wide.
Growth Habit: Upright, conical evergreen tree with graceful, drooping branches.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–7.
Flowering/Fruiting: Small cones appear in late summer to fall; seeds attract wildlife.
Year-Round Interest: Evergreen foliage provides winter structure and color.

Ideal Uses:

Shade & Woodland Gardens: Perfect for understory plantings or naturalized forests.
Hedges & Screens: Dense foliage provides privacy and wind protection.
Wildlife Plantings: Offers shelter and nesting habitat for birds and small mammals.
Specimen Trees: Elegant form makes it a striking focal point in large landscapes.

Canadian Hemlock is a graceful, ecologically valuable native evergreen. Its year-round foliage, wildlife support, and shade tolerance make it an excellent choice for naturalized landscapes, woodland gardens, and wildlife-friendly plantings.