Tsuga sieboldii, commonly known as Southern Japanese Hemlock, is an evergreen tree native to the cool temperate forests of Japan, where it thrives on rocky soils and on ridges, cliffs, and slopes, often in mixed coniferous and broadleaf woodlands. It typically grows to a height of 15-20 meters with a spread of 4-6 meters. The tree is often multiple-stemmed from the base, and the dense crown is broadly conical and pointed, contributing to its graceful appearance. The bark is a dark pink-grey and is smooth with horizontal folds in young trees, but it cracks into squares and becomes flaky with age. The needles are short and dark green, and the small, inconspicuous cones add to its ornamental value.

Southern Japanese Hemlock is valued for its elegant form and adaptability to garden settings. It is used for screening and as a specimen tree in larger landscapes. This species is tolerant of a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, and prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils with an acidic pH. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to pests such as hemlock woolly adelgid, which requires monitoring and management. Gardeners should be aware that this tree does not tolerate drought or polluted urban conditions well.CC BY-SA 4.0