I like hemlocks, and there are many great cultivars of Tsuga canadensis, including 'Pendula.' My only hesitation about eastern hemlocks is their susceptibility to infestation with the woolly adelgid, but that is more of a problem down here in the southern end of their range. Some of the other hemlock species (like Tsuga diversifolia) are resistant to the woolly adelgid, but I don't think any of these other species have quite the cultivar variety that canadensis has.

Thanks Dean...that would be a concern. Lost two Ryusen...and don't wish to replace this next replacement. It was a toss up with a weeping conifer and a possible lavender twist. Seen one in our area that had no winter protection and looks great. Seeing tons of ryusen winter dead.

Appreciate the heads up...not worth the risk for myself...I want to stack the cards in my favor...than against it.

Sorry Ken...NE Ohio...weeping larix...is it juglone tolerant? We have clay soil...but back where it's at...we did haul in semi loads of fresh topsoil.

Dean is spot on about hemlock. NH Ohio isn't cold enough to avoid adelgids, as far as I am aware. You can overcome clay soil, simply by planting high on a mound. That would allow you to expand your search. A couple to consider:
Picea abies 'Pendula'
Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula'
Picea engelmannii (any cultivar) extremely cold hardy.
Pinus strobus 'Angel Falls'

I'll look into those you listed SC77...you are correct I did a search and seen that Ohio has seen issues of woolly adelgid. After losing two trees in this planting area. I just don't wish to risk it.

I am always confused whenever I read about the wooly adelgid and Hemlocks. I have Eastern Hemlocks. My trees look fine. Yes, I have over the years seen a few on them, but I will hose them off on some dying branch. But largely the trees look lush, and if anything, there seem fewer and fewer as the years go by. (This is in a zone 7/coastal climate with about 50 inches of average rainfall.)

I can't speak to the coastal plain, but the Southern Appalachian populations have been simply decimated. In many (most?) areas there are far more dead hemlocks than living ones, and the living ones are on their way out. The Eastern Hemlock will probably be eradicated from that part of the world before too long.

That is sad. There's a beautiful specimen in the Philly area and I wonder if special measures are being taken to keep it healthy. We're still cold enough to keep it out of harms way, and I sure hope it stays that way.

The Arnold Arboretum had nearly 2000 eastern hemlock..some 100+ years old. HWA was first spotted there in 1997, within 10 years 30% of the trees were completely dead.... Nearly all infested. It was been reported that 50% of all eastern hemlock fro. Georgia to Massachusetts have been impacted.

In MA, we have had about 3 winters since 97 that have been cold enough to kill most of the pests. 04, 13, 14.... It just delays the inevitable tho.

On the other hand, NH is cold enough regularly to control the pest, and their forests are still healthy, especially in the White Mountains region.