xoxox Thank you!

FYI several in Seattle are over 30 ft. tall - after many years. Numbers on Arboretum tags imply planting dates going back to the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Apparently average growth here is not even 1 ft. per year. See Jacobson, Trees of Seattle - Second Edition (2006) for locations of these and other examples.

Well, that is perfect for the spot I planned. I'll check on the Arboretum specimens next time I go. I will plant something faster growing on the south side of it and try to get it some shade quickly, just in case climate change makes the sun/heat more intense in the future. Thanks for the info and encouragement! It is a gorgeous, gorgeous tree!

A pic from the wild in Japan, very much in full sun:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mt.Kitayokodake_from_Tsuboniwa.JPG

Pineresin, thanks! I would not have recognized the tree in the pic as being anything close to the one I bought, but obviously the conditions are much harsher. Looks like sun will be no problem, although I hope it will keep it's lovely, bushy, exuberant looks.

That photo appears to be up near the timberline,a zone of very harsh conditions indeed. Yours will not resemble that.

+oM

Thanks, wisconsitom, I thought that, too. Made me feel so much better about planting it where I planned. It's so pretty, I'd hate to lose it because I didn't provide the best space for it.

Of course, the habitat shot (above) is taken in a monsoonal climate where there will be a great amount of cloudiness and rain during the summer. But I still wouldn't expect this species to burn under most circumstances in this area.

@Olychick - Can you post a picture of your tree? Tsuga diversifolia is still quite rare in the US. Is it straight species, or one of the cultivars like 'Loowit'? Either way, it's an excellent species that is highly under represented in the US, would be great to see a pic.

Thanks,
Shawn

Here are a few. I shot the tag, as well. I put the tree on the walkway because the proposed site has me facing the sun to shoot, but I included one of that, too, as well as the wonderful new growth.

Wow! Really nice!! Thanks for posting

Thanks, sc77. See, that's why I couldn't resist it! Hard to get a good shot because of the background plants and sun. I didn't even know they were particularly unusual, but I love that, too.

And I see it says "Great Plant Picks" on the label. I also see they think it wants some shade!

http://www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/view/1586

Thanks for the link. That's my original question prompted by that tag :) Does the amt of sun I mentioned in my op seem like it might be too sunny? I have a Sunburst Honey Locust just to the west of where I want to plant it, but it's not leafed out yet, nor is the sun high in the sky as it is June-August, so I'm unsure if I can get some shade from it for the hemlock mid-day. Does the info on the tag change your original thoughts about sun?

I don't know why they're saying that, suspect the issue may be a little scattered burning of leaves during hot summers in hot locations. This grower - who may have produced the plant you bought - says the same thing about the preferred aspect. But also shows the plants growing in a field.

http://www.loneelder.com/Product/Details/167?page=1&currentFilter=diversifolia

Tsuga canadensis-so right off the bat, not this plant-is most notable as a young tree in NE Wisconsin forests in micro-locations where, due to wind or some other factor, a decent amount of sunlight is now penetrating the forest floor.
That is to say, while I know hemlock to have high shade tolerance, the truth is, it mostly gets its start in quite sunny areas. Not hot/dry/sun-baked locations mind you, but spots where some sun is available, along with moist forest soil. Use this information, season to taste, and apply to your own agenda. In that part of the world where hemlock-any species-is able to grow and thrive, I posit that it will take considerably more sun than is often suggested. If well outside of any species of hemlock's range, all bets are off.

+oM

Thank you both. That's what I was hoping for - some educated guesses that this might be an ok place for this tree. As you can see from the background in my pics, it's not a hot field, but it does get some midday sun, lso I think I'll risk it. It is a cool, moist soil location and hemlocks grow well here, but at the edge of the woods, or in the forest. I have several Mt. Hemlocks that I transplanted many, many years ago (one over 40 years ago) and they are thriving, but get a bit more protection from the sun.

Thanks again!

There's a western hemlock visible right behind the planting site in one of your pictures. You could probably tell a lot from locations of the larger examples of Tsuga diversifolia listed in Jacobson's book (above), as these have grown in place for decades. I've never looked at this tree in the past and seen anything to make me think it was a shrinking violet - hence my original response - but it is true that many planted, established, larger examples seen are in wooded collections or other situations where larger trees of other species are often nearby and casting shadows.

Thanks, I've sent for Jacobson's book through the library loan system, because Olympia doesn't have it, so it will be another month or two before I receive it to look at the examples you mention. I do have several mature native hemlock on my land, and they pop up all over, especially in the sunny garden. I think I'll try it where planned and if nothing else, I'll move my patio umbrella to give it some shade in June and July/August until it's better established. I'm going to shop this weekend for a deciduous tree to plant to the south of it, too, if I can find something tall enough to cast some shade that I can manage to carry and plant on my own.

I really appreciate everyone's input. I'll try to repost when the summer is over and report how it did.

I see if you just do an image search for the tree multiple photos of examples growing in the open in various locations come up.

This mentions it growing wild with birches, mountain ash, alders and oaks. Planting naturalistic associations in the garden can be interesting and harmonious looking. You might be able to find a small-growing kind of birch or mountain ash that already has a head of some size at a garden center. Particularly since the latter tends to be sold with an elevated crown of spreading branches it might have the right size and shape - if anything near an adequate amount of shade is to be produced the first year you need something with a pretty big top right from the start.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/42433/0

Gosh, thanks for the suggestions. I'll see what's available around here. I'm hoping the existing locust will cast some shade. It's SOOOO slow to leaf out; every day I think I see some green, but NOOOO...still sleeping, There is also a red JM kind of intertwined with the locust and it's putting out some new growth on that side, so I'm hoping it will fill out more, too.

My two tsuga diversolia seedlings I potted up and placed in full sun got scorched badly despite watering it and eventually lost all its leaves and died. Shade for mine. Btw, does anyone know if this hemlock does well in the northeast? Or is this plant specifically suited for the PNW

Here's a link that shows it's distribution in the US.

Looks to be strictly usda zone 5.

That map is a bit misleading. It only shows the coldest region it is hardy to, not the warmest. For example, if you look at the map for Picea abies it only shows zone 3.

tj

Yes, the map is narrow but if you look down the page where it states the distribution, it gives much more information. Sounds like Tsuga diversolia likes higher elevations that tend to have fairly cold winters, much snow and is highly frost tolerant, it also likes wet summers and cooler temperatures. Trees like that usually don't do well in areas that have hot humid summers with dry periods like out east. I have no personal experience with this species but thought the ACS should have reliable information on the subject.

I would think that Tsuga sieboldii would do much better in eastern US.

It does well here, and is hardy all the way to Z4 Wisconsin/Michigan area, but there are reports that in hard winters it can have some damage in z4. I think Chinensis is the better bet when you get further south, but Tom Cox, author of Landscaping with Conifers and Ginkgo for the Southeast has reported good success with this species in Georgia.

This one is 32 years old at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston 6B. Probably could use a bit more sun

The Cox arboretum is north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Piedmont Range, elevation of about 1200 ft. and is surrounded by lakes and wetlands. So I suppose it generally does better depending on where you are located, as many other types of plants do.

I agree that T. chinensis overall would probably be a better choice.

I have considered tsuga sieboldii but it's wooly adelgid resistance is no where near strong as diversifolias

From what I've read, tsuga sieboldii has good to excellent resistance to the HWA.

[beng12(z6 west Md)[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/is-anyone-growing-a-tsuga-sieboldiisouthern-japanese-hemlock-dsvw-vd~4648757)

Well it might have better resistance Than tsuga canadensis but diversifolia has the best I heard. And with those adelgid being so widespread in my area I probably shouldn't risk it. Unless someone can prove to me that it's resistance is at equal level with tsuga diversifolias. Btw that thread you linked is mine, and sc77 said sieboldii is inferior to resistance

well, 'inferior to' leaves a pretty wide berth for the imagination but a google search brings up many links to HWA resistance of T. sieboldii and many of then say that while T. diversifolia and T. chinensis have excellent resistance, T. sieboldii show little damage even though some HWA may reside on the tree itself. To me that would be good enough to try one. :)

https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/hwa/control_management/hybrid_hemlocks/

sieboldii has good resistance. I would consider growing it, but it's not bulletproof like diversifolia & chinensis.

http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/2004-63-2-finding-a-replacement-for-the-eastern-hemlock-research-at-the-arnold-arboretum.pdf

You could also consider Tsuga ulleungensis!

Well I already got 2 seedlings of tsuga diversolia so might as well just keep them and grow it. Dont know where I can get my hands on tsuga sieboldii

This may sound stupid....but how do you get a post to actually go where you want it to. I need help with a conifer and wrote a post with pictures etc. I checked "conifers" and "trees" and it isn't showing up anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. I'm enjoying the posts of everyone else...just can't mine up.

Jeanne , try going to your page , at bot. " contact us "

ron