Plant DetailShow Menu

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' is often confused with:
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' Adult form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode'
Pinus mugo 'Mops' Pinus mugo 'Mops'
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' Adult form
Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers
Mealybugs
Bagworms in Ornamental Landscapes
Arborvitae Leafminer
Juniper Scale Insect
Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Sunkist Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

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

‘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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#evergreen#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#deer browsing plant#alkaline soils tolerant#evergreen shrub#clay soils tolerant#yellow needles#fall color#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#gold#evergreen#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#deer browsing plant#alkaline soils tolerant#evergreen shrub#clay soils tolerant#yellow needles#fall color#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Thuja
    Species:
    occidentalis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    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
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Bark Description:
    Bark on mature branches and trunks will exfoliate.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Typically single-trunked.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen