Japanese Hemlock
Tsuga sieboldii
Pine familiy (Pinaceae)
A bonsai with mini needles
The southern Japanese hemlock, or Toga-matsu in Japanese, has distinctive needles of varying lengths along with attractive, little cones.
This hemlock is native to the islands of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku where it grows on volcanic slopes of up to 1,500 meters.
The Japanese hemlock is planted as an ornamental tree in many Japanese parks and gardens. It is also very popular in the bonsai world.
In Japan, especially after World War II, many individuals were felled because of its quality wood. In central Japan, the population has suffered greatly from deer that eat the seedlings and damage the bark of mature trees.
The southern Japanese hemlock was introduced to Europe by Philipp Franz von Siebold and then entered cultivation in the Netherlands from around 1850.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Blijdenstein Pinetum.
Part of the Dutch National Conifer Collection.
Fragrant; contains resin.
Wood is used as timber.
Details
Description: | Conifer, up to 30 m tall and 250 cm in diameter. |
---|---|
Distributions: | Japan |
Habitat: | Temperate conifer forests. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
Hardiness: | 5 - 14 f (hardy - cold winter) |
Flowering period: | Mei - juni |
Flower color: | Not applicable |
Fruiting period: | Mei - november |
Sources
https://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/conifers/tsuga-sieboldii,J.E. Eckenwalder, Conifers of the world