Plant library · Conifers & Evergreens
Tsuga canadensis
Canadian hemlock is a long-lived evergreen tree with a graceful, soft-textured presence and a broad mature canopy. Growing about 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide, it belongs in a permanent part of the plan rather than a narrow foundation bed. Its year-round foliage makes it especially useful where a woodland edge, shaded boundary, or large-scale screen needs visual weight in every season.
Use Canadian hemlock at the back of deep beds, along a sheltered property edge, or as a substantial woodland screen where its full height will not overwhelm nearby spaces. It can be pruned into a hedge, but its naturally pyramidal outline is most effective when given room to develop. Keep it away from hot, wind-exposed corners and leave open access on at least one side for watering, inspection, and any future pruning.[1][2]
Set plants 20 feet apart, center to center, for a screen or grouped planting. That interval allows neighboring canopies to knit together while respecting a mature spread of about 30 feet. Keep the planting line well back from paths, driveways, roofs, and utility corridors, since low branches and the broad canopy will occupy meaningful ground space as the trees mature.
Place this tree in partial shade, ideally where the site is protected from strong drying winds and harsh afternoon heat. Maintain evenly moderate moisture, especially while plants are young and during extended dry weather. Moist, well-drained soil suits the root zone; avoid relying on a site that routinely dries hard in summer.[1][2]
Its evergreen canopy holds the screen through winter, so allow for the same visual mass when planning views, shade, and circulation in every season. The dense, pyramidal form can serve as a steady backdrop for lower seasonal plantings without leaving a bare winter gap.[2]
Reserve Canadian hemlock for USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7 and for sites that can remain consistently moist without becoming waterlogged. Hot, humid conditions and drought can be difficult, particularly in exposed locations. Include a clear approach route for regular inspection, since hemlock woolly adelgid is a serious concern for this species in the eastern United States.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.