Dwarf Canadian Hemlock
Growth habit
Dwarf Shrub
Perennation
Perennial
Location
Source of plant
Watnong Nursery
Description
In 1938 the original plant was slightly less than 6" tall and 24" wide. The leaves are closely set, pectinate, reducing in length towards the tip of the shoot, uniformly held at a wide angle to the shoot, with two noticeable white stomatic bands. The main branches are horizontal and devoid of leaves; the branching habit is most peculiar: the branchlets grow outwards but soon knuckle under and bend directly downward, so most of the tips are in close contact with the soil; these tips have a tendency to rot. A mulch of pebbles is a help, but the plant grows more rapidly and is perhaps more beautiful if staked to a height of about 12" and then allowed to weep downward like a vernal fountain. This clone is difficult to establish unless given some shade. Two 32-year old plants were at one time at Raraflora, Feasterville, PA. One, unstaked was 4" tall and 25" in diameter. The other, which had been staked for some time was 33" tall and 25" across. See ACS Bulletin 15(2) Spring 1998 p.81: Discovered by Mr. H.R. Cole as a wild seedling mutation near the base of Mt. Madison, Coos County, NH in 1929; requires shade or it will lose the dense foliage around its crown exposing an unattractive mass of bare branches.
USDA Hardiness Zone
3
Special characteristics
growth habit, winter interest, dwarf conifer