Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Other Names:  Canadian Hemlock, Eastern Hemlock

Brand:  Monrovia

Description:

A superb evergreen, with luminous yellow-golden foliage on an upright, pyramidal tree with graceful arching branches; it can also makes a great hedge when pruned; needs adequate moisture, rich, acidic and organic soil, and shelter from drying winds

Ornamental Features

Golden Duke® Hemlock is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive gold evergreen foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and turn orange and in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Golden Duke® Hemlock is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects

Golden Duke® Hemlock is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Golden Duke® Hemlock will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Golden Duke® Hemlock is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.