How tall do hemlock trees grow?
The Canadian Hemlock grows into a large tree and some trees have been recorded at well over 100 feet tall, but this takes many, many years. Most trees found in gardens are 20 to 70 feet tall if left un-pruned.
Where do hemlock trees grow in Canada?
Canadian hemlock trees are best grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-7. They are indigenous to eastern North America. These trees require a soil that is moist, but that offers good drainage. They prefer a loamy, acidic soil.
What are the pros and cons of a Canadian hemlock tree?
Two virtues of Canadian hemlock trees are that they are shade tolerant and make very little mess. Canadian hemlock trees have two major drawbacks in the form of two pests that attack them: wooly adelgids and deer.
How far apart do you plant hemlock trees?
Plant them in the spring or summer 30 to 40 feet apart and they will grow 12 to 24 inches per year. Moderately slow-growing and long-living, Canadian hemlock trees in the wild can reach 70 feet tall or higher with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. These are fragrant plants and crushing the needles releases their aroma.
What is the poisonous bark of hemlock?
How tall is a Canadian hemlock tree?
What is the most common evergreen tree in North America?
What is compact shrub?
How to encourage successful rooting of a cutting?
What is the average temperature of a sage tree in January?
What type of soil do trees need?
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Canadian Hemlock Tree Facts
Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), also called eastern hemlock, is a member of the pine family and native to North America. You’ll see the trees...
Canadian Hemlocks in The Landscape
Canadian hemlocks in the landscape have flat sprays of lacy evergreen foliage and graceful, pyramid shapes. Their elegance makes them excellent cho...
Care For Canadian Hemlock Trees
If you’ve been careful about your planting location, care for Canadian hemlock trees is not difficult. The most important part of Canadian hemlock...
What insect kills Canadian hemlocks?
If you live in Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania, or other areas where infestations of woolly adelgid have been severe, remain vigilant. These are tiny, sap-sucking insects that can kill Canadian hemlocks. Treatment includes pesticides containing imidacloprid or dinotefuran. Printer Friendly Version.
What zone do Canadian hemlock trees grow in?
In general, this species does well in cooler to cold climates, and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7.
How big do sage trees grow?
They have a slow to medium growth rate of up to 24 inches (61 cm.) a year, maturing to 50 to 70 feet (15-21 m.) tall and 25 feet (7.6 m.) wide. Don’t worry about their roots.
Is Canadian hemlock poisonous?
If you are hesitant to plant this tree because you know hemlock is poisonous, stop worrying. No part of the Canadian hemlock is poisonous. The poisonous hemlocks you have heard about are perennial plants in the parsley family.
Can you use Canadian hemlock as a specimen tree?
Canadian hemlocks in the landscape have flat sprays of lacy evergreen foliage and graceful, pyramid shapes. Their elegance makes them excellent choices for specimen trees. However, the trees are very tolerant of shearing. This means that you can also keep them short or use them for privacy screens.
Do Canadian hemlock trees need direct sun?
The trees prefer partial shade, especially in areas with hot summers, but do require daily direct sun. If your region gets strong winds, pick a planting spot with wind protection.
Do Canadian hemlocks need irrigation?
As it matures, it still requires frequent irrigation during dry weather. Canadian hemlocks are not very drought tolerant. Care for Canadian hemlock trees can also require regular pruning if you wish to keep the tree a particular size or shape. It is not necessary for the trees’ health, however. Although these trees are hardy to zone 3, their roots ...
What is hemlock used for?
Canadian hemlock can be used for pulp and for rough, general construction, but in the past the wood has been of little value. Of value to Native Americans and colonists, however, was the bark that yielded tannins used as a curative and for tanning leather. Tragically, only the lower bark was peeled off, leaving the tree standing with its upper bark still intact, to slowly die.
How many cultivars of Canadian hemlock are there?
There are more than 50 cultivars of Canadian hemlock. Many are slow-growing and somewhat pendulous. Representative cultivars of Canadian hemlock include:
What is the niche of hemlock?
Canadian hemlock's ecological niche is opposite that of pioneer species that invade and dominate disturbed soil. Canadian hemlock seedlings require the shade of pioneer species to become established, but once established, the dense, overlapping vegetation of the Canadian hemlock shades out the pioneer species and it thus becomes the dominant species.
What is the genus name for hemlock?
The genus name for the hemlock tree, Tsuga, is of Japanese origin.
What is the growth habit of a pyramidal tree?
Growth habit: Pyramidal when young, this tree has a nodding leader unique among our native conifers. Branches become pendulous with age.
How long does it take for a plant to spread?
Plants will hug the ground unless grafted on a short standard. Plants will spread about 3 feet in 10 years. ‘Gentsch Variegata' or ‘Gentsch White' - A slow-growing, spreading plant with variegated branch tips. ‘Sargentii' - A remarkable plant that develops a rounded, weeping habit.
Can hemlock be sheared?
Culture: Because of its positive response to pruning and because it doesn't lose its lower limbs, the Canadian hemlock is ideal as a sheared or unsheared hedge. This large tree can also be kept short with pruning. Canadian hemlock requires moist, acidic soil with good drainage. It can be grown in full sun or shade.
What are needles used for?
The needles have been used to make a tea high in vitamin C. (Although often confused with the hemlock that poisoned Socrates, the Canadian hemlock is not poisonous.)
What zone does Canadian Hemlock grow in?
The canadian hemlock can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 3–8. View Map
How long are brown cones?
Yields an abundance of small brown cones ½ –1" long that hang from the branches like ornaments.
How fast does a sage tree grow?
This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12" to 24" per year.
Is Canadian hemlock drought tolerant?
The Canadian hemlock grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy and well-drained soils. It is not drought-tolerant.
How tall does a Japanese hemlock grow?
Northern Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia), a native of Japan, is one of the smaller hemlocks and grows slowly to 35 to 60 feet tall and 25 feet wide. This hemlock tolerates windy conditions well and is popular for its higher resistance than other hemlocks to pests. "Loowit" is a dwarf variety that remains 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
How tall is a Thorsen's Weeping?
At maturity, western hemlocks have a height of 70 to 130 feet and a width of 20 to 30 feet. This hemlock grows quickly, making it good for filling in gaps in the landscape or for replacing fallen trees. If trained on stakes, the "Thorsen's Weeping" variety can grow into a striking weeping form; without training, ...
How tall is a mountain hemlock tree?
When mature, mountain hemlock measures 50 to 90 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide; those kept in gardens tend to stay at the lower end of the size range. This tree does not do well in lower elevations and prefers partially shady conditions. For a dwarf variety, look for "Elizabeth," which remains only 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide.
How big do hemlock trees get?
Most hemlock species reach at least 30 feet when mature, although some dwarf varieties do exist. Before deciding to plant a hemlock, be aware of their mature size and understand the concerns of planting large trees near your home.
How tall is a Canadian hemlock?
The standard Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) reaches a mature height of 40 to 70 feet with a 20- to 35-foot-wide canopy. This species is one of the more popular hemlocks planted in the eastern United States and Canada.
Where do hemlock trees grow?
The gracefully drooping branches of hemlocks (Tsuga sp.) make them an attractive tree in woodland gardens. These conifers grow best in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7; some species thrive in the coastal and mountain areas of the western United States, while others do best in the eastern U.S.
Where is Mountain Hemlock native to?
For a hemlock that grows in higher elevations, look for mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana). This hemlock species is native along the Sierra Nevada range and other mountainous areas of the western United States. Mountain hemlock is a good choice if you want a slow-growing conifer.
Sunlight
Tolerates shade well, especially at the southern end of its range; full sun in the far north is best.
Watering
Not drought-resistant; your Hemlock needs regular watering, about an inch or so per week.
Fertilizing
Use a balanced 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer every spring, once the tree is acclimated to its setting.
Planting instructions
Site your Canadian hemlock where it will get at least four hours of direct sun a day — or more if you live in the northern end of its range. Hemlocks have a spread of 25 to 35 feet, so be sure to space multiple trees far enough apart so that they have room to grow, unless you’re planning a hedge.
Watering and nutrients
Once established, your Canadian hemlock will do well with about an inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. It’s a good idea to mulch around the root zone with an organic mulch, such as bark or wood chips, to keep the soil evenly moist. This may allow you to water less frequently.
Pollination
Canadian hemlock trees are monoecious, meaning that a single tree has both male and female characteristics. In the hemlock’s case, it has both pollen cones and seed cones on each tree, with pollination occurring due to the action of wind. At that point, the pollen cones wither away and seed cones develop into small oval pinecones.
Pruning
Regular pruning is not needed with Canadian hemlocks unless you are shaping the trees to become a hedge or would like to keep them to a certain size, in which case, you would do your major pruning in spring or early summer.
What was the first dwarf conifer I ever bought?
Canadian hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis) were the first dwarf conifers I ever bought and collected. It was about 1980, when I first visited the (now closed) Watnong Nursery in Morris Plains, NJ. The owners were Don and Hazel Smith, who established a nursery in their backyard after retiring. They specialized in rock garden plants, dwarf conifers, and other plants, which were rare and of interest to the keen collector. The Smiths were enthusiastic, kind, and empathetic to all who visited their nursery. Indeed, among their many contributions, was the education of their clients via long and patient discussions.
How many Canadian hemlocks did the Smiths have?
Sometimes the Smiths stocked 10-15 Canadian hemlock cultivars at one time. In those days, these plants did not have much availability anywhere in the United States. On the East Coast, many were acquired from other hobbyists and collectors, including ACS charter members Bob Fincham in Pennsylvania, Eddie Rezek and Joel Spingarn in New York, and Tom Dilatush in New Jersey. The Verkade and Vermuelen nurseries, both in New Jersey, also stocked Canadian hemlock cultivars. Don Smith propagated some cultivars by rooting them in a Nearing Frame.
How many species of Asian hemlock are there?
There are four species of Asian hemlock: Tsuga chinensis (Chinese hemlock), T. diversifolia (northern Japanese hemlock), T. dumosa (Himalayan hemlock), and T. sieboldii (southern Japanese hemlock). Cultivars of these species are uncommon except for T. diversifolia (northern Japanese hemlock), of which there are a few. T. diversifolia is native to the Japanese islands of Honshū, Kyūshū, and Shikoku. In Europe and North America, T. diversifolia is sometimes employed as a tree for the garden. It has been in cultivation since 1861.
Why is Canadian Hemlock not used?
The wood of the Canadian hemlock has not been useful for general construction purposes because of its softness and lack of durability. It has, however, been used as a source of pulp in the paper industry and to make crates.
How tall is a hemlock tree?
Recently, a tree in the Great Smoky National Park (NC and TN) was 173-feet tall (52.8 meters), although this tree is now dead from hemlock woolly adelgid. Diameters of existing, isolated hemlock range from 2 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 11 inches (0.75–1.8 meters) and are about 150-feet tall (45.5 meters).
Why were hemlock forests decimated?
Large forests were decimated for the sole purpose of harvesting only the bark. Extracted, hemlock vegetable tannins were used to cure and color leather. The stripped logs were left behind to rot. Virgin forests of Canadian hemlock are non-existent today.
Where can I find hemlock?
It can now be seen at several arboreta in the Northeast, including: The Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA, New York Botanical Garden, NY, Planting Fields Arboretum, Nassau County, NY, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, and Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, Great River, NY. These specimens are over 100 years old. They are magnificent and well maintained. Other cultivars, whether of miniature, dwarf, or intermediate growth rates, offer textures and colors to the garden, which are quite different from those of pines, spruces, and firs.
How tall is a Canadian hemlock tree?
The Canadian Hemlock grows into a large tree and some trees have been recorded at well over 100 feet tall, but this takes many, many years. Most trees found in gardens are 20 to 70 feet tall if left un-pruned.
What zone does a sage plant grow in?
It will grow best in cooler areas and it is hardy from zone 3 to zone 7. It has soft, attractive dark-green needles and it clips well to form beautiful hedges in shady areas of the garden. It is tolerant of most soils and will grow well in damp areas as well as normal garden conditions.
What is the best zone for Canadian hemlock?
Canadian Hemlock is hardy from zone 3 to zone 7 , so it is a prime choice for cooler, rainier areas of the country, where it is a very suitable plant to grow as a specimen or as a hedge. It can be grown in full sun in zones 3, 4 and 5, but in warmer zones it should be protected from sun, especially the hot afternoon summer sun. This tree will grow best in moderately rich soil with a good organic content and does not need well-drained soil, in fact it will do best with a steady supply of moisture. It prefers acid soils but will grow well on all kinds of soil except those which are very alkaline.
How big do a sage tree get?
Un-pruned it will grow with a central trunk, with long, sweeping side branches that hang down as the tree grow wider. A mature tree may be 25 to 35 feet wide.
What kind of soil do cypress trees like?
This tree will grow best in moderately rich soil with a good organic content and does not need well-drained soil, in fact it will do best with a steady supply of moisture. It prefers acid soils but will grow well on all kinds of soil except those which are very alkaline.
How long does it take for a magic tree to ship?
Orders typically ship out within 2 business days. You will receive email notifications along the way on the progress of your order, as well as tracking information to track your plants all the way to their new home!
How big is a nursery container?
You'll find we carry young 1-gallons, up to more mature 7-gallons ranging anywhere from 6 inches to 6ft.
What are the leaves of a hemlock tree?
Hemlock boasts flat, needle-like leaves which are spirally embellished on the tree branches. The leaves are light green in color and tend to become darker as they age. Being a typical conifer, hemlocks develop cones (both male and female ones) instead of flowers. These cones tend to be at the end of the branches in a small, oval shape with a touch of brown color. Hemlock is known for its dense, wet habitats, constituting dry, rocky soil. The species of hemlock can be found in and around forests, on rocky areas, river banks, hilly regions, and in the ravines as well. For hemlock to grow sound and healthy, it must be cultivated in regions that receive enough annual rainfall and snowfall.
What tree resembles a Christmas tree?
To visualize eastern hemlock, note that it best resembles a Christmas tree as it boasts intense green needle-like leaves on pyramidal branches. Plenty of brown cones hang from the branches of hemlock trees like small, beautiful ornaments just like goodies hang from the branches of a Christmas tree.
How tall is a hemlock tree?
Scientifically called Tsuga Canadensis, Eastern hemlock is a slow-growing plant that takes almost two decades to reach its ultimate height of 40 feet and width of 25 to 30 feet. That being said, the tree is a long-living one and has the ability to survive up to thousands of years.
How many species of hemlock are there?
Known as Tsuga in Japanese, hemlock is an evergreen tree that belongs to the pine family and the subfamily – Abietoideae. Research shows that there are about 10 species of hemlock. Four of these species belong to America, while the other six are native to regions in Asia.
What is the bark of a mountain hemlock tree?
The bark of this tree is considered to be diaphoretic, astringent, and diuretic in nature. The pieces of the inner bark or twigs are added in a healing tea to cure colds, influenza, diarrhea, and bladder or kidney issues.
How many types of hemlock trees are there?
Did you know that hemlock trees come in six major types? Here is your chance to learn about them in detail.
How long does it take for a hemlock tree to turn brown?
This conversion from one hue to the other takes almost five to seven months. In appearance, the reddish-brown seeds are long and slender with a pinkish-brown wing.
What is the poisonous bark of hemlock?
Conium maculatum and Circuta maculata are the poisonous hemlocks. The bark of the Canadian hemlock is one of the primary tree sources of tannins traditionally used for tanning hides for clothing during the 19th and early 20th centuries. 1. Along with its better-known relative, the eastern white pine, these trees are among ...
How tall is a Canadian hemlock tree?
Moderately slow-growing and long-living, Canadian hemlock trees in the wild can reach 70 feet tall or higher with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. These are fragrant plants and crushing the needles releases their aroma.
What is the most common evergreen tree in North America?
Along with its better-known relative, the eastern white pine , these trees are among the most common evergreen trees growing in the forests of eastern North America. They are pyramidal or conical in shape and their small, fragrant two-toned green needles give them a fine texture. The bark of Canadian hemlock trees at maturity can be reddish-brown.
What is compact shrub?
Compact cultivars, which are essentially shrubs, are commonly used as privacy hedge plants or in foundation plantings. If you begin pruning them when young, they are fairly easy to shape.
How to encourage successful rooting of a cutting?
To encourage successful rooting, dip the base of the cutting entirely in a rooting hormone powder used for woody shrubs and trees.
What is the average temperature of a sage tree in January?
This tree grows in regions with cool, humid climates. In the northern areas, January temperatures average 10 degrees Fahrenheit and July temperatures average 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation ranges from less than 30 inches.
What type of soil do trees need?
Soil. These trees require soil that is moist but has good drainage. They prefer a loamy, acidic soil. Shallow-rooted, these trees need protection from the wind, or else you might return home one day after a storm only to find your tree lying on the ground.
