Nothotsuga longibracteata

(aka: Tsuga longibracteata) Nothotsuga longibracteata is a little-known, but stunningly beautiful Chinese conifer that hails from several of the southern provinces, where they grow on acidic soils at elevations between 1,000' and 7,000'. Sadly, they are now endangered due to excessive logging. Originally thought to be a hemlock, then a hybrid between Tsuga and Keteleeria, they have now been given their own genus. Introduced to the US by the US National Arboretum, Nothotsuga longibracteata has thrived in our hot humid summers and high rainfall, reaching 15' tall in 9 years. Nothotsuga will mature at 90' height with beautifully brown fissured bark and cones that emerge reddish-purple. We were told these couldn't be rooted from cuttings, but since we don't believe anything we're told, we rooted some to share. In China, Nothotsuga is popular for both construction and to make furniture...we prefer them as garden specimens.