Tsuga canadensis eastern hemlock

Eastern hemlock is a native plant of North America, precisely eastern parts of Canada. It is a beautiful, slow growing conifer of picturesque habit so similar to Himalayan cedars. It has short, soft, medium green needles, and although the branches of the main framework grow strictly upright the ends are always pendent like a green veil. Its mature size varies significantly and is fully dependent on the root space – in smaller gardens where it has to compete with roots of other plants it will stay much smaller compared to specimen trees planted in large parks where its roots can spread almost indefinitely.

Eastern hemlock is a hardy and maintenance-free plant. Still, it has a certain liking we should obey in order to have a beautiful plant. It hates drought, heat, and wind. Especially in arboretums you can see it placed among larger trees which offer some shade from the hottest sun and provide a sort of a microclimate not allowing drying winds to play its tender foliage.

The soil has to be of low pH (acid) as it won’t grow in chalky ground (danger of chlorosis = yellowing of leaves and consequent root rot). Having said that we should also admit that eastern hemlock trees have some adaptability to calcareous soil if you help newly growing roots with a good layer of fresh peat above the ground. Pruning is not needed but can be done any time from late winter until midsummer, preferably in early spring. Fully hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 22-10-2014