Not Currently Available
Cannot be shipped to ME,MI,NH,OH,VT due to Hemlock Wooly Adelgid quarantine
Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, is a graceful, relatively fast-growing evergreen conifer. It is native to a wide ranging area, from New England and Maritime Canada west to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana, and south to Alabama and Georgia. Though plagued by Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, this tree is worth growing for its beautiful, graceful form. Adaptable, growing well in clay, sand, and neutral soils.
Here in Indiana, eastern hemlock is found in cool, sheltered ravines and along creeks - Acidic soils based on sandstone and siltstone seem to be preferred. It is a common sight in West-Central Indiana, growing along Sugar Creek through Shades and Turkey Run state parks. Hemlock groves are very nice in the summer - The temperature in the cool, hemlock-shaded ravines is often 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding air!
In the Appalachians, eastern hemlock is usually found in cool forest coves and north slopes - These populations have been especially hard-hit by hemlock adelgid, though, drastically changing the look and feel of these forests.
Eastern hemlock has an excellent form, a slightly soft, weeping look with a deep green cast. Needles form two ranks along the twigs, and have two lighter bands underneath similar to firs. Eastern hemlock is typically a 50-75 foot tall tree with a narrow form in the landscape, while in excellent forest conditions trees can be as much as 150 feet tall.
Light brown cones are produced at the ends of twigs in the upper crown in profusion, and are typically around 1 inch long. A cool-climate tree, Hemlock is typically found on slopes and coves with a moist Northern or Eastern aspect. Eastern hemlock performs poorly in hot, dry exposed conditions, though grows very well in full sun in the North.
Eastern hemlock is very useful in the landscape - Given a good spot with morning sun and rich, moist soil, hemlock grows very quickly putting on 2 to 3 feet of growth in a single season. It makes a good hedge in the north, since it grows densely and tolerates shearing. It also is good to include in mixed forest plantings, increasing biodiversity and providing season-long shade to keep the ground temperature consistent.
Eastern hemlock is good for shelter yards that deer winter in - Note that deer browse may be a problem on young seedlings. Protect hemlock seedlings from rabbits the first year with a cage made of wire fencing.
Plant hemlock on good, moist well-drained soil in full sun to part shade - Eastern hemlock mixes very well with oaks, sugar maple, yellow buckeye, fraser magnolia, rosebay rhododendron, and maple-leaf viburnum.
Note in areas with woolly adelgid, treatment of the trees with imidicloprid may be necessary - We don't recommend treating anything with imidicloprid unless absolutely necessary, as this chemical has been linked to colony decline in certain bee species.
This year's Tsuga canadensis seed comes from Door County, Wisconsin.
We grow Eastern Hemlock in our 1-quart SuperPlugs - These establish quickly due to the well-branched, naturally root-pruned root systems.
| Common Name: | Eastern Hemlock |
| Botanical Name: | Tsuga canadensis |
