New Golden Duchess Eastern Hemlock Shines in the Garden

Virtues: We love the Tsuga canadensis Golden Duchess for its striking golden yellow foliage that fills the dwarf shrub’s arching branches in opulent color. This cultivar of Eastern hemlock was introduced to the market by Monrovia in 2014. These stunning shrubs make wonderful additions to woodland or rock gardens. They can also be planted in containers for a golden accent.

Common name: Golden Duchess Eastern hemlock

Botanical name:Tsuga canadensis ‘Monkinn’

Foliage: Dense, vibrant foliage gracefully covers the cascading branches.

Habit:Tsuga canadensis Golden Duchess or ‘Monkinn’ has a spectacular low, mounding habit reaching 3 to 4 feet in height with a 3- to 5-foot spread.

Season: Golden Duchess Eastern hemlocks are splendid evergreens, perfect for filling gardens with lush color all year long.

Origin: First discovered by Ron Kinney at Monrovia Nursery in Dayton, Ore., as a selection of Tsuga canadensis, a species native to the eastern regions of North America.

How to grow Tsuga canadensis Golden Duchess: These shrubs thrive when planted in evenly moist, slightly acidic well-drained soil. Showing improved sun tolerance to the species and earlier cultivars, they can successfully be planted in full sun. However, they prefer dappled shade. Provide regular watering until established. You can feed them with a general-purpose fertilizer before new growth emerges in spring. USDA Zones 4–7.

Image courtesy of and copyright Monrovia
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