Tsuga canadensis Pendula - Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis 'Pendula' is a small-sized conifer that grows slowly. Over time, it takes the shape of a lush, spread-out, and low dome with a naturally weeping and creeping habit. Its twisted and trailing branches grow in multiple directions; a slightly more upright habit can be achieved by guiding the main scaffold branch and pruning the lower ones. Its green and shiny needles are arranged along consistently weeping branches, resembling draperies, giving this shrub exceptional ornamental value. Small pendant, ovoid, and brown cones may appear on well-established plants. It requires a moist, neutral to acidic soil, and prefers a relatively cool exposure, sheltered from the wind.

Tsuga canadensis, also known as Eastern Hemlock, is an evergreen conifer of the pine family, native to Eastern Canada, where it often grows in mixed forests and maple groves, always in shade. This species slowly reaches a height of 30 m (98ft), with a diameter of 1 m (3ft), and can live up to 600 years. This very hardy conifer prefers fertile and moist soils, and does not tolerate drought or direct sunlight. Its roots are shallow and spreading widely.

The 'Pendula' variety, derived from this species, caused a sensation when it was discovered in Germany before 1891. It is distinguished by its moderate size, and its fantastic habit, in the shape of a large weeping dome, spread-out and low, or sometimes truly creeping if allowed to grow naturally. Its growth is slow. If left to grow without intervention, it will not exceed a height of 1m (3ft) at maturity, with a spread of 5 to 6 m (16 to 20ft). If, on the other hand, its growth is guided upwards, it can reach 3 to 4 m (10 to 13ft) in height and 5 m (16ft) in diameter. Its gnarled and unpredictable branches, emerging from a very short trunk, gracefully droop and spread on the ground. They are covered with a smooth, orange-brown bark, which becomes dark brown and grooved with age. The branches that inevitably point towards the ground are covered with flat and short needles, 7 to 16 mm (1in) long, finely toothed, vibrant green on the upper side with two white bands on the underside. They are arranged in two ranks on the twigs. The bark starts peeling off from a young age. The small, brown, and tiny cones that sometimes appear on adult plants measure 1 to 2 cm (1in) in length.

Tsuga canadensis 'Pendula' forms a monumental specimen that does not go unnoticed in a garden. Left to its own devices, it can be used as ground cover in a large rock garden, or to cover a wall, gracefully cascading over it. If trained as a shrub , it can create a sumptuous backdrop for a flower bed or be used in a woodland edge, as it appreciates the shelter provided by trees and large shrubs. It pairs well with large stones and well-maintained lawns; it can be planted in moist soil. It can also contribute to the design of a natural pond or water feature, near the freshness it seeks, in a non-exposed position. The true graphic qualities of conifers and the infinite choices available to gardeners, in all climates of our country, naturally impose themselves in the design of contemporary gardens, which favors the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally define a flower bed, mark pathways, line terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.