Arborvitae

Arborvitae will flourish where no other evergreen does, spreading a lush screen of fan-like foliage that provides privacy and gives winter shelter to the birds. For garden sculptors, arborvitae offers just the right texture and growth habit for topiaries. Many dwarf varieties are available as fillers and vertical accents for smaller gardens. Arborvitae prospers in deeply cultivated, moist and fertile soil in full sun.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

5-9

Plant Type:

Shrub

Plant Height:

To 60 feet tall, depending on type

Plant Width:

To 15 feet wide, depending on type

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Privacy, Slopes, Groundcover

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage, Winter Interest, Attracts Birds, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Eastern red cedar

(Thuja occidentalis) is an especially tough type native to areas of North America. It grows 60 feet tall and 15 feet wide at maturity. Zones 2-7
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Hetz Midget arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget') forms compact globes that turn bronze in colder weather. It grows 32 inches tall and wide. Zones 2-7
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Little Gem arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Little Gem') is a dwarf variety that forms a compact, dark green sphere 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Zones 2-7
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Pyramidalis arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Pyramidalis') is a fast-growing, conical evergreen often used for hedges and windbreaks. It grows 60 feet tall and 15 feet wide at maturity. Zones 2-7
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Rheingold arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold') bears golden foliage, sometimes pink-tinted when young, on a conical shrub growing 3 to 6 feet tall. Zones 2-7
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Smaragd arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd') is a dwarf variety that forms bright green cones. It grows 3 feet tall and wide. Zones 2-7
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Sunkist Oriental arborvitae

(Thuja orientalis 'Sunkist') is a dwarf globe-shaped variety with gold-tipped leaves. It grows 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-9
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Techny arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Techny') slowly grows into a dense, evergreen pyramid; excellent choice for using as a hedge. It grows 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Zones 2-7
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Woodward globe arborvitae

(Thuja occidentalis 'Woodwardii') forms a dark green sphere that grows 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Zones 2-7
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