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Planting conditions

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Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Thompson's Nursery

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Buy Tsuga mertensiana

Also Known As

Alpine Hemlock
Black Hemlock
Hemlock Spruce
Mountain Hemlock

Plant type

tree, conifer

size

H: 30'-50'
W: 8'-20'

planting zones

6a-8b

3 gallon bagged root ball | $76

Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total

30 at Gossler Farms

12 to 16 inches tall - bare root | $14.38

Shipping flat rate $12

Fewer than 2 at Red Panda Nursery

#1 Container | $59.99

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Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

#5 Container | $169.99

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Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

Specimen #1013 #1013 | $645

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Fewer than 1 at Conifer Kingdom

More Options

Tsuga mertensiana plant details

Tsuga mertensiana is a slow-growing evergreen conifer tree with blue and green foliage. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, alkaline, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Tsuga mertensiana

Plant type: conifer tree
Plant family: pinaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 8 FT - 20 FT - wide, 30 FT - 50 FT - tall
Uses: bare root shipping available, bonsai, focal point, larger quantity available, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Tsuga mertensiana

USDA Zones: 6a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: acidic, alkaline, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Our mountain hemlock from high in the Cascade Mountains. We don't see this plant until about 5000' feet. The mountain hemlock will be one of the last windblown trees at the tree line. The irregular stems are covered with gray green needles. This plant is a slow grower and makes a superb specimen plant or grouping in our valley gardens. We have had a plant for 50 years and it's 30' X 8' and it makes a stunning focal point.

By: Gossler Farms

These mountain hemlocks have been legally collected in Oregon and Washington in extremely difficult site conditions. We have selected them amongst tens of thousands of trees for showcasing outstanding sculptural form. Given their difficult site conditions

By: Conifer Kingdom

"The most singularly beautiful of all the California conifers" (J. Muir), smaller and slower with blue-green foliage "sprays arranged in varied, eloquent harmony [and a tip which] droops like the stalk of a nodding lily." PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Mountain Hemlock is more drought and heat tolerant than other Hemlock species, especially compared to the Western Hemlock. Trees produce almost perfectly even conical forms with narrow branches and very dense foliage, making this one of the most inherently ornamental native conifers. Mountain Hemlock is an excellent choice for a living Christmas tree because of its even form and medium growth rate combined with a superior ability to be sheared into perfect form. Shearing works better for this species than other conifers because it maintains active growth tips along its old branches for a very long time and so can be pruned back without risking creating dead spots with no active growth.

Plants prefer well drained soil and are drought tolerant, but grow much quicker with regular summer irrigation. These can be kept in large containers for many years if they are grown in fabric pots. Fabric pots breath more than plastic ones and also prevent root circling, allowing for long term root health.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Needled evergreen with gray-green to silvery-white needles and a narrowly conical shape. Its unique shape makes it a wonderful specimen in a NW landscape. This native of the northwestern region of the US prefers more of a full sun situation with regular moisture.

By: Garden World

Alpine-looking conifer w/dense graceful habit, Regular water, Collected Tree, Hardy zones 5-8.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Native to the highlands of western North America. A noteworthy feature is a well defined leader; though in small plants, it may take some years for the leader to become established. Closely spaced, slightly ascending branches have grayish needles spirally arranged on the stems. One of the finest alpine conifers you'll find! It's a slow grower and makes a good bonsai subject.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Handsome, evergreen conifer, native along the Pacific Coast from southern Alaska to the mountains of central California. Can reach 20-30 ft tall x 10-15 ft wide in the garden. Enjoys cool temperatures and moist conditions; does well in part shade or in full sun if not allowed to dry out. Consistent summer water is best. Frost hardy in USDA zone 5.