Tsuga canadensis 'Aurora' / Aurora Canadian hemlock

Tsuga canadensis 'Aurora' is a miniature, spreading selection of Canadian hemlock with tiny golden needles that will appear more green when grown in shade. This conifer is a perfect choice for the rock garden or trough planting and prefers to be grown in sun, or partial shade in well-drained soil. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 8 inches (20 cm) tall and 12 inches (30 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of less than 1 inch (2.5 cm).

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the 1990s by Edsal Wood (1926 - 1996) of Aurora, Oregon; and is one of several dwarf hemlocks named for small towns in Oregon's Willamette valley.