Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- THU-ya ock-sih-den-TAH-liss
- Description
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‘Rheingold’ arborvitae is a woody, evergreen shrub in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is a cultivar of the American arborvitae.
This shrub is widely adaptable to a variety of soil types. It does not tolerate dry or exposed, windy sites. It grows well in full sun or partial shade. Avoid full shade, though, or the foliage will thin out dramatically.
As a young shrub, ‘Rheingold’ arborvitae has a dense globose form with golden-yellow juvenile foliage in summer. Winter brings out a strong coppery color. As it matures it develops more scale-like foliage and a more upright conical form, reaching 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide in 10 years.
This shrub may be used as a foundation plant, in borders, or in mass plantings. Its coppery color in winter makes it ideal for winter gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Damage from deer browsing can be a serious problem. Leaf miners may damage leaf tips. Bagworms, mealy bugs, scales, and spider mites are occasional visitors. Canker can occasionally be a problem.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thuja
- Species:
- occidentalis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Yellow-green scale-like foliage turns coppery in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
