Tsuga canadensis Emerald Fountain® 'Monler'

A columnar cultivar of the Eastern Hemlock, this small, slow-growing, evergreen tree provides year-round interest.  

It grows best in part shade to full shade and can be used as an understory tree. It grows best in cool summer areas and doesn't tolerate the heat and humidity of the southeast where it can be planted as an understory.  Protect from the afternoon sun in those southern locations.  Eastern Hemlock needs moist but well-drained soils and doesn't tolerate drought.  Needs little to no pruning.  Winter mulching can benefit the plants survival.

The flat needles have two white bands on the undersides, adding year round interest to the foliage.

Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. 

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems:  A healthy plant in the proper environment has few problems. Potential insect problems include bagworms, borers, leaf miners, sawfly and spider mites.  Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a serious insect pest to the natural population of native hemlocks in the eastern U.S.A. Potential disease problems for plants in the genus Tsuga include needle blight (needles turn yellow and die), canker, rusts, and rots. The foliage may scorch in very hot weather. A prolonged drought can be fatal to this tree.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.