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Hylotelephium cauticola Sedum cauticola
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#evergreen#cpp
 
Adult form
Adult form CC BY 2.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Younger form
Younger form CC BY 2.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
In the landscape
In the landscape CC BY 2.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Leaves Andy Mabbett CC BY-SA 3.0
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Full form (Buncombe County, NC) Randy Harter CC BY 4.0
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Leaves (Buncombe County, NC) Randy Harter CC BY 4.0
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Leaf detail (Buncombe County, NC) Randy Harter CC BY 4.0
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