Thuja occidentalis
- Common Name(s):
- American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Eastern white cedar, Northern white cedar
- 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.
NCCES plant id: 2217