Plant Encyclopedia

Brand:  Iseli Nursery

Description:

This slow growing, dwarf cultivar is compact, round and dense when young, becoming more vigorous and oval shaped when mature; short, blunt tipped needles at different angles expose silvery-white undersides; likes sunshine and acidic moist soil

Ornamental Features

Minikin Japanese Hemlock is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has rich green foliage with silver undersides which emerges light green in spring. The small needles remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Minikin Japanese Hemlock is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded 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 shrub 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

Minikin Japanese Hemlock is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Minikin Japanese Hemlock will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub 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 selected variety of a species not originally from North America.