Tsuga canadensis Jeddeloh - Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis 'Jeddeloh' is a charming and original dwarf conifer, noted for bringing life to shaded areas of the garden. It develops slowly, taking the shape of a flattened globe, with a depressed centre, resembling a funnel-shaped bird's nest. Its green and shiny needles are arranged along staggered branches, with the tips barely touching the ground. Small cones can appear on a well-established plant. It prefers partial shade or shade, and a moist but well-drained soil.

Tsuga canadensis, also known as Eastern Hemlock, is an evergreen conifer in the Pinaceae family, native to eastern Canada, where it often grows in mixed forests and maple groves, always in the shade. This species slowly reaches a height of 30 m (98.4 ft), with a diameter of 1 m (3.3 ft), and can live up to 600 years. This very hardy conifer prefers fertile and moist soils, and cannot tolerate drought or direct sunlight. Its roots are shallow and widely spread.

The 'Jeddeloh' variety, derived from this species, discovered in Germany in 1950, is still rarely used in our gardens. It stands out for its very small size and its unusual, almost weeping, globular and flattened habit. Its growth is very slow. It will not exceed 40 cm (15.7 in) in height at the age of 10, with a spread of about 50 cm (19.7 in). At maturity, it will reach 80 cm (31.5 in) in height and 1 m (3.3 ft) in width. Its arched and staggered branches, originating from a very short trunk, gracefully droop towards the ground. Its twigs are covered with flat and short, finely toothed needles, measuring 7 mm to 16 mm (0.3 in to 0.6 in) long. The needles are bright green on the upper side, with two white bands on the underside. They are arranged in 2 rows on the twigs. The bark flakes off from a young age. The tiny cones that sometimes appear on adult plants measure 1 cm to 2 cm (0.4 in to 0.8 in) in length.

Tsuga canadensis 'Jeddeloh', with its natural design and its dome-shaped silhouette adorned with a beautiful vegetal mane, suits all gardens, even the smallest ones, especially in shaded areas neglected by other plants. In small spaces, it will stand out when planted alone and will also enliven a rockery or a flower bed. It pairs well with large stones and walls. It can be planted in moist soil. It can also contribute to the decoration of a natural pond or water feature, near the coolness it seeks, in a non-burning location. It performs very well in a pot, which allows it to be used to decorate a terrace or balcony. The visual qualities of conifers suit the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes and textures to the daintiness of flowers. This plant is a perfect alternative to trimmed boxwood or holly, and can be used to mark pathways or border terraces. They also add permanence to the structure of a flower bed. The key is to play with volumes and colours.