Northern white cedar Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

‘Sunkist’ arborvitae is a woody, needled 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 and is tolerant of alkaline soils. It does not tolerate dry or exposed, windy sites. It grows well in full sun, partial shade, or dappled sunlight. Avoid full shade, though, or the foliage will thin out dramatically. It needs full sun for maximum color. 

‘Sunkist’ arborvitae is a dense, broad, pyramidal plant that boasts lemon-yellow foliage in the spring. In the winter the foliage will become more orange-yellow. This shrub grows rapidly to a height of 6 to 10 feet and a width of 5 to 8 feet. 

Plant this shrub in a wide variety of settings: lawns, patios, slopes, or walkways. It can be used as an accent; barrier, border, mass, or foundation planting; hedge; privacy screen; or individual specimen. Its gold to orange-yellow color 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.

More information on Thuja occidentalis.