Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Also listed as Picea canadensis, Abies americana
Also known as Canada Hemlock, Canadian Hemlock, Common Hemlock
Climate Match for your location
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A graceful evergreen conifer native to eastern North America, valued for its soft, feathery foliage and pyramidal form. Eastern hemlock makes an excellent specimen or screening tree in cool, shaded woodland settings.
Why grow it
Eastern hemlock offers finer, more delicate foliage than most other native conifers suitable for woodland settings, creating visual contrast with coarser evergreens. Its dense branching and naturally pyramidal silhouette make it useful for screening without requiring heavy pruning, and it establishes well in the cool, moist, acidic soils typical of northeastern woodlands where many ornamental conifers struggle.
Watch out for
Eastern hemlock prefers consistently moist soil and does not tolerate prolonged drought, so it requires supplemental watering during dry periods, especially when young. The tree's shallow root system and dense canopy can make establishment slow in the first few years, and it may decline if planted in full sun or hot, dry microclimates despite its native range.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A graceful evergreen conifer native to eastern North America, valued for its soft, feathery foliage and pyramidal form. Eastern hemlock makes an excellent specimen or screening tree in cool, shaded woodland settings.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Eastern Hemlock grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Eastern hemlock offers finer, more delicate foliage than most other native conifers suitable for woodland settings, creating visual contrast with coarser evergreens. Its dense branching and naturally pyramidal silhouette make it useful for screening without requiring heavy pruning, and it establishes well in the cool, moist, acidic soils typical of northeastern woodlands where many ornamental conifers struggle.
Watch out for
Eastern hemlock prefers consistently moist soil and does not tolerate prolonged drought, so it requires supplemental watering during dry periods, especially when young. The tree's shallow root system and dense canopy can make establishment slow in the first few years, and it may decline if planted in full sun or hot, dry microclimates despite its native range.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Pinaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar canopy trees you might consider:
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