Oriental Arborvitae Platycladus orientalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Thuja orientalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- plat-ee-KLAD-us or-ee-en-TAY-liss
- Description
-
Grows as a dense, conical to columnar tree/shrub. Tends to open up as it ages. Benefitted by good air circulation. Its leaves will emit an odor when bruised. This plant is tolerant of most conditions with the exception of wet, boggy sites.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Healthy, well-maintained trees have few problems. Scout for bagworms and spider mites. Snow and ice weight can break branches in the winter.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea Nana'
Dwarf, dense globular, yellow-green foliage to 10' - 'Baker'
Dwarf, dense, conical plant, to 8' - 'Compacta'
Compact pyramidal form - 'Conspicua'
Yellow foliage, upright conical form - 'Filiformis Aurea'
Yellow foliage, upright-oval with stringy yellow branchlets - 'Juniperoides'
Rounded 3' with blue-gray needles - 'Westmont'
Slow-growing 2' tall and wide, yellow-tipped green leaves
- 'Aurea Nana'
- 'Aurea Nana', 'Baker', 'Compacta', 'Conspicua', 'Filiformis Aurea', 'Juniperoides', 'Westmont'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea Nana'
Dwarf, dense globular, yellow-green foliage to 10' - 'Baker'
Dwarf, dense, conical plant, to 8' - 'Compacta'
Compact pyramidal form - 'Conspicua'
Yellow foliage, upright conical form - 'Filiformis Aurea'
Yellow foliage, upright-oval with stringy yellow branchlets - 'Juniperoides'
Rounded 3' with blue-gray needles - 'Westmont'
Slow-growing 2' tall and wide, yellow-tipped green leaves
- 'Aurea Nana'
- 'Aurea Nana', 'Baker', 'Compacta', 'Conspicua', 'Filiformis Aurea', 'Juniperoides', 'Westmont'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Platycladus
- Species:
- orientalis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Korea, Russiian Far East
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Screening
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Dimensions:
- Height: 18 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Conical
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Seed is inside the cone. The tiny oval seeds start yellow and turn light brown as they mature. When cones open, they look like roses.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Oval cones
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Triangular scale-like yellowish-green leaves start out as flattened sprays, becoming darker green with age. Bronzes in winter.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Reddish-brown
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
