1 / 4
Overview
Tsuga canadensis is a graceful, slow-growing evergreen conifer native to eastern North America. Trees reach 40–70 feet (12–21 m) tall and 25–35 feet (7.6–10.7 m) wide in cultivation over many decades; growth rate is 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) per year on good sites. The habit is broadly pyramidal with a characteristic nodding leader and slightly pendulous branch tips. Needles are flat, 0.3–0.6 inch (8–15 mm) long, dark green above with two white stomatal bands below, arranged in two flat ranks with a row of shorter needles along the top of the stem creating a distinctive banded appearance when viewed from below. Cones are small, 0.6–0.8 inch (15–20 mm) long, ovoid, pendant, with thin rounded scales — among the smallest cones of any North American conifer. Bark is cinnamon-brown to purplish-brown, developing thick ridges with age. T. canadensis is threatened in its native eastern range by hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an introduced insect not yet established in the Pacific Northwest, making this a lower-risk choice in the region than in the eastern US.
Native Range
Tsuga canadensis is native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia and New England south through the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia, at elevations from near sea level to 4,500 feet (1,370 m), in cool, moist, shaded forest conditions. It is not native to the Pacific Northwest.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen, informal screen, and formal hedge in woodland gardens and large residential landscapes, spaced 15–20 feet (4.6–6 m) apart as specimens or 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) for hedge use. The nodding leader, pendulous branch tips, and fine needle texture create a graceful silhouette distinct from other large screening conifers. Tolerates shade better than most conifers of comparable size. Pacific Northwest conditions suit this species well given the absence of hemlock woolly adelgid.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height40' - 70'
Width/Spread25' - 35'
Reaches mature size in approximately 30 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Male and female cones are on the same plant (monoecious). Male strobili are small, globose, yellow, releasing pollen in April–May. Female cones are small, 0.6–0.8 inch (15–20 mm) long, ovoid, pendant on short stalks at branch tips, ripening from green to brown in autumn of the first year.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow (male strobili)Foliage Description
dark green above, two white stomatal bands below; banded appearance from shorter top-stem needlesGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water weekly during the first two growing seasons; established trees require consistent moisture and tolerate moderate drought only once deeply rooted. Prefers cool, moist, well-drained to moderately moist, acidic soils; performs poorly in hot, dry, or alkaline conditions. Tolerates partial shade — performs well in shadier conditions than most large conifers. In the Pacific Northwest, hemlock woolly adelgid is not established, removing the most serious threat this species faces in its native eastern range. Winter wind on exposed sites can cause foliage desiccation; sheltered positions are preferred.Pruning
No pruning required for natural form. Tolerates shearing for hedges — one of the few large conifers that can be maintained as a formal hedge. Shear in late spring before growth hardens. The plant regenerates from old wood better than most conifers, allowing some rejuvenation pruning. Remove dead branches at any time.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer