Slenderella Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis 'Slenderella'
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Other Names: Canadian Hemlock, Eastern Hemlock
Description:
A small upright conical tree or large shrub with a rigid branching habit and somewhat stunted needles, resulting in a contrastingly open yet formal appearance, rather aptly named; needs organic, acidic soil, adequate moisture and shelter from drying winds
Ornamental Features
Slenderella Hemlock is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its rigidly columnar form. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The small needles remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Slenderella Hemlock is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Insects
Slenderella Hemlock is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Vertical Accent
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Slenderella Hemlock will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.
