Golden Duchess Canadian Hemlock

Golden Duchess Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'MonKinn')

Golden Duchess Canadian Hemlock is a dwarf, mounding selection with soft, finely textured sprays that flush bright golden yellow and mature to chartreuse green; its compact habit and year-round color make a refined accent for foundations, rock gardens, and woodland borders.

Distinctive Features

Luminous New Growth: Golden tips glow in spring and soften to chartreuse through summer; Dwarf Habit: Naturally compact, low mound with layered sprays provides neat structure with minimal pruning.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade to morning sun with afternoon shade; protect from hot, drying winds.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil; avoid compaction and standing water.
• Water: Keep evenly moist during establishment and in heat; do not allow prolonged drought.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7.
• Mature Size: About 2 to 3 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft wide in 10 years; slowly larger with age.
• Bloom Time: Inconspicuous; small pendant cones follow on mature plants.
• Soil pH: Acidic to slightly acidic, about 4.8 to 6.5.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Golden tips create a bright, four-season highlight near paths and entries.
• Foundation Planting: Compact mound softens hardscape edges.
• Rock or Conifer Garden: Slow growth suits layered, small-scale designs.
• Woodland Border: Pairs with ferns, heucheras, and hostas in dappled light.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak during dry spells; maintain consistent moisture with mulch.
• Pruning: Light tip-pruning after spring flush to refine shape; avoid cutting into bare wood.
• Fertilizing: Apply an acid-forming, slow-release fertilizer in early spring if soil tests indicate need.
• Mulching: 2 to 3 in of pine bark or leaf mold, kept a few inches from the trunk, to cool roots and conserve moisture.
• Notes: Monitor for hemlock woolly adelgid; site out of reflected heat and road salt to prevent scorch and stress.

Why Choose Golden Duchess Canadian Hemlock?

• Year-Round Color: Golden spring flush and soft green summer tones brighten shade gardens.
• Dwarf Presence: Manageable size fits courtyards and small beds.
• Fine Texture: Layered sprays add elegance and depth to mixed plantings.
• Shade Adaptability: Performs where many conifers struggle, especially in dappled light.

Plant in acidic, well-drained soil with partial shade and steady moisture to showcase its glowing new growth and tidy, compact form.