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Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
THU-ya ock-sih-den-TAH-liss
Description

Rheingold Arborvitae is an evergreen shrub in the cypress family. As a young shrub, it 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 6 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide in 10 years.

The shrub is adaptable to different soil types and acidity but prefers moist well-drained loams in sun to light shade with some protection from the wind. It may be used as a foundation plant, in borders, or mass plantings. Deer will browse this shrub.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Thuja occidentalis.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#evergreen#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#evergreen#cpp
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Conical
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting