Eastern Hemlock – Simcoe County Master Gardener

Simcoe County Master Gardeners

Grow Natives!

PLANT PROFILE

COMMON NAME: Eastern Hemlock

BINOMIAL: Tsuga canadensis

Family	pinaceae (pine family)
Cdn Native Range	native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Great Lakes–St. Lawrence forest region
Natural habitat	cool, moist, shady, protected sites, often with yellow birch, sugar maple, beech
Type	evergreen conifer
Features	attractive pyramidal graceful shape. outer branches droop gracefully, flattened deep green short needles (1–2 cm long) with 2 white stripes underneath. main leader has drooping form.
Growth habit	moderate to slow growth; shallow roots; densely conical when young, irregular with age
Mature height	up to 18 m (60 ft)
Mature spread	6-7.6 m (20–25 ft)
Life span	up to 600 years/young trees produce seed after 20–40 years
Cdn Hardiness Zone	3-7
Growing conditions	grow best out of direct sun/needs cool moist conditions in full sun with protection, or medium shade
Soil conditions	adapts to different soils but prefers slightly acidic soils, nutrient rich well-drained soil
Watering needs	water during drought conditions
Fertilizer needs	do not fertilize for first few months after planting to allow tree to establish/slow-release fertilizer early spring feeding only/do not overfertilize
Tolerance	full shade/tolerates full sun if kept moist. low tolerance of urban stress; salt; very wet or very dry soils
Maintenance rank	low
Maintenance needs	low; hemlock trees require protection from wind
Bloom	n/a
Fruit	small oval-shaped seed cones (12–20 mm long) are solitary, hang from branch tips and mature in 5–8 months. seeds released shortly after.
Pollinator support	n/a
Environmental support	trees provide dense cover and food for white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, porcupines ruffed grouse and wild turkeys. nesting habitat for many bird species. songbirds feed on seeds. host plant for several moth species.
Garden Use	responds to pruning so can be planted as ornamental. grows well in groupings, makes good background planting in semi-shaded gardens or as screening
Risks & Cautions	hemlock woolly adelgid is threatening natural range/treatable in cultivation