Thuja occidentalis

Common Name(s):

American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae

Cultivar(s):

'Aurea Nana', 'Hetz's Winter Green', 'Nigra', 'Pumilia Sudworth', 'Smart Guard', 'Spudwellii'

Category:

Trees

Comment:

A slender evergreen tree native to eastern North America in the Cupressaceae family.  It is a low maintenance plant that tolerates clay soil, wet sites, black walnut and air pollution.  Attractive red-brown bark exfoliates on mature branches and trunks.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf miner may damage leaf tips. Bagworms, mealybug, scales and spider mites are occasional visitors.  Canker can occasionaly be a problem. Does not preform well in overly shady, dry, or windy sites.   Susceptible to damage/stem breakage in winter from ice and snow accumulations. Foliage can become winter burned (yellow-brown) in dry, exposed sites.

Height:

40-60 ft.

Flower:

Conifer, non-flowering

Zones:

2 to 7

Habit:

Evergreen

Site:

Full sun to partial shade in the afternoon in hot summer climates; wide range of soil types including tolerating wet sites. Does not tolerate dry sites. Grows best in moist, neutral to alkaline, well-drained loams. Avoid full shade or foliage will thin out dramatically and avoid exposed, windy sites.

Texture:

Fine to medium

Form:

Stiff, narrow to broad pyramidal form

Width:

10-15 ft.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

Leaf:

Rich green summer color; scale-like, aromatic, yellow-green to green foliage appears in flattened sprays. Often turns yellow in winter.

Tags:

air pollution, clay, wet sites, conical, low maintenance, winter interest, wet soil, fragrant, fragrant foliage, black walnut, wet, bark, evergreen

NCCES plant id: 2217