Tsuga canadensis - Canadian or Eastern Hemlock (Pinaceae) ------Tsuga canadensis is a graceful, fine-textured, shade- slender, relatively unbranched and open growth when tolerant evergreen tree that performs best in cool and allowed to grow naturally, but are much more dense moist northern climates. Effective in groups or as a when they are periodically sheared specimen tree, Canadian Hemlock has several Trunk interesting shrub form cultivars. It is one of the few -scaly to flaky and red-brown on young trees, but evergreens ideally suited for shady site. becoming dark brown to gray and furrowed/ridged with age, and quite noticeable if the tree is limbed up FEATURES Form USAGE -a large evergreen specimen or Function shade tree in its native habitat; -correctly used as a specimen, screen, or group however, under cultivation, a planting small tree and as a hedge small-, medium-, or large-sized -incorrectly used as a windbreak in exposed sites or evergreen shrub or tree as a foundation shrub (where it may get too big) -species form matures to at least Texture 80' tall x 40' wide in its native -very fine-textured habitat, but it is normally a much -thick density smaller tree under urban Assets conditions (to 25' tall x 10' wide, -ultra-fine texture (a combination of the miniature- as a general rule) needled foliage and the slender, drooping twigs) -upright pyramidal growth habit -pyramidal growth habit -medium growth rate -branches and foliages to the ground -grows in full shade to full sun conditions Culture -can be sheared for a dense tree or dense hedge effect -full sun to full shade Liabilities -can be quite finicky in its exacting requirements for -often has chlorotic/sunscorched foliage or dieback transplant success: best performance occurs in an when placed under urban stress conditions evenly moist but very well-drained soil, which is rich -does not tolerate poorly drained soils or wet sites in organic matter and acidic to neutral in pH, lightly -the adelgid mulched to maintain a cool root zone, and sited in pest is partial sun to partial shade conditions; however, it ravaging tolerates full sun to full shade and acidic to alkaline Hemlock in pH soils portions of -generally does not tolerate nutrient-poor soils, wet its native soils or poorly drained sites, prolonged drought, habitat, and prolonged heat, windy and exposed sites, aerial may spread pollution, or winter salt spray (most of the above to urban conditions can occur when it is sited as a foundation areas tree or as a roadside screen planting) Habitat -numerous potential disease and pest problems that -Zones 4 to affect the roots, bark, wood, or foliage, but a major 7 problem for this species down the road may be the -Native to adelgid pest, which has devasted the species in some Eastern areas of its native habitat Canada and Appalachia -abundantly available in the trade SELECTIONS Foliage Alternates -the evergreen, medium- to -evergreen pyramidal trees (most species of Abies, dark-green needles are about Picea, Pinus, etc.) 0.5" long, subtlely petioled, -evergreen conifers of fine- to medium-fine texture and in a spiraled or pectinate (Abies koreana, Chamaecyparis species, Picea (two-ranked) arrangement on orientalis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Thuja occidentalis, the slender stems, with 2 etc.) or deciduous conifers of similar texture (Larix, bluish-white bands Metasequoia, Pseudolarix, Taxodium) underneath each needle -full shade tolerant evergreen large shrubs or trees Flowers (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, C. nootkatensis, etc.) -ornamentally insignificant Cultivars – Variants – Related species Fruits -'Gentsch's White' - a dwarf shrub form (to 4' x 4'), -0.5" miniature cones are initially green, becoming with spring tip growth that becomes creamy-white in brown in their second year, quite attractive when autumn and winter against the dark green background viewed up-close on the branches, but not of the older foliage; must be placed in partial shade to ornamentally significant avoid sunscorch Twigs -'Pendula' - an upright weeping form, often staked -thin, green-brown, and pubescent, with slightly during nursery production to maintain a central leader drooping branch to the desired height, often anywhere from 2'-5' x 5' -terminal branch tips and the central leader have long,