Canadian Hemlock

Characteristics & Cultural Requirements

• Height/Spread: 40 to 70 feet tall by 25 to 35 feet wide
• Habit/Form: Upright, conical
• Hardiness Zone: 3 to 7
• Exposure: Partial sun preferred, some shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained

Ornamental value and landscape use

Dense and pyramidal Canadian hemlock are stately, yet graceful, evergreens in the landscape. As a woodland native, they prefer an environment that offers partial shade and protection from the wind and sun. Intolerant of drought, they prefer constant moisture and an adequate supply of organic matter.

Canadian hemlock have small needles and cones giving them a soft, graceful appearance. Their strong main branches lead to gently drooping branchlets. Canadian hemlocks can be sheared for a more formal look or they can be left alone for a more natural look.

Canadian hemlocks attract wildlife. They provide cover for different songbirds and other animals and are known to be a nesting site for warblers. Some songbirds enjoy the seeds from the tiny cones.