Gentsch White Canadian Hemlock

Gentsch White Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'Gentsch White')

Gentsch White Canadian Hemlock is a dwarf, variegated selection valued for dense, feathery sprays tipped with creamy white, creating a luminous, frosted look; slow-growing and compact, it fits small gardens, foundations, and woodland edges with refined year-round texture.

Distinctive Features

Cream-Tipped Foliage: New growth and pruned tips flush creamy white, contrasting with deep green interior sprays for a frosted effect; Dwarf Habit: Naturally compact, mounding to broadly conical form provides neat structure without heavy shearing.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade to morning sun with afternoon shade; protect from hot, drying winds.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter.
• Water: Keep evenly moist, especially during heat and establishment; do not allow prolonged drought.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7.
• Mature Size: About 3 to 5 ft tall and wide in 10 years; ultimately 6 to 10 ft tall and 6 to 8 ft wide over time.
• Bloom Time: Inconspicuous; small pendant cones follow.
• Soil pH: Acidic, about 4.5 to 6.5.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Cream-tipped fans create a luminous specimen near paths and entries.
• Foundation Planting: Compact habit softens corners and hardscapes.
• Woodland Border: Pairs with ferns, hostas, and shade perennials.
• Rock or Conifer Garden: Slow growth suits layered, small-scale designs.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak during dry spells; maintain consistent moisture with mulch.
• Pruning: Light tip-pruning or a gentle shear in late summer encourages brighter winter variegation; avoid cuts 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 road salt and drying winter winds for best color and vigor.

Why Choose Gentsch White Canadian Hemlock?

• Four-Season Interest: Creamy tips over deep green sprays brighten the garden year-round.
• Dwarf, Manageable Size: Fits small spaces without constant pruning.
• Textural Elegance: Fine needles and layered sprays add softness and depth.
• Shade Adaptability: Performs where many conifers struggle.

Plant in acidic, well-drained soil with partial shade and steady moisture, and use light late-summer tipping to enhance its signature winter-white glow.