6 min readIf you’re looking for a plant that’s beautiful, hardy, and low-maintenance, add arborvitae to your garden. Ranging in size from dwarf shrubs to large trees, these evergreen conifers are ideal in every landscape if you choose the right variety.
Arborvitae also have the benefit of being native plants: Thuja occidentalis is native to Eastern North America, while Thuja plicata is native to Western North America.
“Thuja occidentalis is by far the most common on the market, but Thuja plicata offers bold, glossy foliage that has a distinctive, almost braided look,” says horticulturist Stacey Hirvela, marketing manager for Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.
These handsome and versatile plants come in a range of colors from deepest green to golden-yellow.
“Arborvitaes are dependable evergreens that bring structure and color to the garden throughout the year,” says Linda Vater for Southern Living Plant Collection. “They are hardy across USDA Zones 3 to 8 and are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and foliage colors.” (Find your zone here).
However, there are a few downsides to these plants, namely the fact that arbs are not deer-resistant plants. “It’s not just that they get eaten by deer, but that deer absolutely love them,” says Hirvela. “T. plicata is more deer-resistant, as are some hybrids like the ubiquitous ‘Green Giant’.”
For this reason, arbs require protection from deer, such as fencing or netting, which can be difficult as larger varieties mature. Or, if you live in a deer-heavy area, this evergreen may not be the best choice—once damaged, it often can’t recover its natural form.
In addition, in some climates, ice and snow damage can be an issue. Some common varieties such as ‘Emerald Green’ (technically known as ‘Smaragd’, the German and Danish word for “emerald”) are quite susceptible to splitting or severe disfigurement from heavy snowloads or ice storms. While little can be done about ice, it may be helpful to brush or shake fresh snow off branches that you see being bent over, says Hirvela.
Ahead, here’s what else you should know about planting and caring for arborvitae.
Why You Should Plant Arborvitae
No matter what your garden style or goals, there’s an arborvitae for every application. With sizes ranging from a few feet tall and wide to a towering 15 feet or more, you’ll find specific cultivars that will suit your needs. They’re also available in interesting forms including globe, pyramidal, and columnar shapes, which makes them even more appealing, says Hirvela.
Most arbs are fairly fast-growing, so they’re an ideal choice for privacy. They’re also not ultra-picky about conditions.
“They are tolerant of sun or shade, though deep shade will make them less dense, and they can tolerate periods of wet or dry soil once they are established,” says Hirvela.
Arbs also typically are long-lived and low-maintenance. “Their naturally dense growth requires little, if any, pruning to keep their shape and form, while their foliage smells delightful when you crush it – kind of a fruity scent that’s not like anything else,” says Hirvela.
With so many options, make sure to do your homework so you don’t end up with a plant that’s not suited for your space. Read the plant tag or description, which will give you an idea of its mature height and width. “When you buy a cute little arborvitae at the garden center, it can be hard to believe it will reach the size it claims, but it’s best to take that seriously and plant accordingly,” says Hirvela.
How to Care for Arborvitae
Overall, arborvitae are incredibly tough plants. Basic care is simple: Choose the right cultivar for your hardiness zone, water it well as it’s getting established, and apply a 2- to 3 inch layer of shredded bark mulch to the root zone after planting.
“It protects their shallow roots from cold and desiccation, and preserves good conditions for root growth longer into fall once it starts getting cold,” says Hirvela.
When choosing a planting site, remember that arbs do best with good drainage. “Constantly wet soil can lead to root problems, including root rot,” says Vater. “Avoid planting them in areas where water tends to collect or where the soil remains saturated after rain, and amend heavy clay soils or choose a slightly elevated planting location to improve drainage.”
Another point to remember is that arbs don’t typically need pruning. Many newer selections naturally keep their tidy globe or pyramidal shapes, which makes them especially low-maintenance plants, says Vater.
One thing to watch for with a pyramidal arborvitae is if it loses its pointy top, or leader. “But don’t worry. A new one will form, and the shape will be restored in time,” says Hirvela. However, keep an eye out for multiple leaders competing to be the new one, and trim out all but the best or most central one in order to keep its classic form.
Also, note that even though these shrubs are evergreen, arborvitae do lose their oldest leaves each fall. “This is totally normal and natural, but it does result in them having a distinctive copper/brown layer in their interior, and that freaks people out sometimes,” says Hirvela. “But as long as the browning is only appearing on the inner foliage and it occurs in autumn, it’s not a cause for concern.”
When to Plant Arborvitae
Typically, fall is a good time to plant most perennials, shrubs and trees, though many types of evergreens are an exception.
“Generally speaking, I advise against planting evergreens in fall in cold climates,” says Hirvela. “However, because arborvitae are so cold tolerant, and because their small, dense foliage loses less water than other evergreens, they are much more forgiving of fall planting.”
Still, in cold climates, it’s best to plant these evergreens by late September or so, ensuring they have at least six weeks of good conditions for root growth to help them get established. In warm climates, fall planting is no problem, says Hirvela.
What Kind of Arborvitae Can You Grow?
There are many different cultivars from tiny to towering and dark green to gold in color. Read the plant tag and label so you know what you’re buying. Here are a few popular and beautiful options:
- ‘Emerald Green’ and ‘Green Giant’ are popular varieties you can buy nearly anywhere. They become very tall (upward of 12 to 18 feet, depending on conditions). But one caution: They’re commodity crops, churned out by the tens of thousands by growers across North America. “Many of these are low-quality plants that are already stressed, or haven’t been grown with proper spacing so they have thin canopies,” says Hirvela. “As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for, so it is worth seeking out high-quality plants that may cost a little more than the cheapest ones you’ll find.”
- ‘Fire Chief’ stays two to four feet tall and wide with foliage that changes through the seasons, moving from gold in spring to orange in summer and deeper red in fall. This is a great arb for adding structure with a pop of color.
- ‘Fluffy’ has a pyramidal shape and foliage that emerges yellow, giving the plant a glowing appearance that remains even in winter.
- ‘Forever Goldy’ has a narrow, upright habit and golden foliage that contrasts beautifully against other green plantings.
- ‘Pancake’ is a fun, petite evergreen sphere that can be tucked into spaces where a traditional arborvitae won’t fit. It reaches just 12 to 18 inches high by two to three feet wide, and its foliage takes on a bluish cast in fall and winter.
- ‘Tater Tot’ is an adorable addition to foundation plantings or mixed borders, partly because of its name and partly because it’s a super cute three-foot ball of scalloped foliage.
- ‘Whip It Good’ and ‘Whipcord’ have fun mounding shapes and quirky foliage with a shaggy appearance to add unique texture to the landscape.
