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Thuja is often confused with:
Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Taxus Taxus spp.
Thuja has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Arborvitae Thuja

Phonetic Spelling
THOO-yuh
Description

This genus is native to both North America and parts of East Asia.  The evergreen leaves and pyramidal shape lend to its use as an ornamental tree.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See the fact sheet for potential insect problems to the left

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:
'Green Giant', T. occidentalis, T. plicata
Tags:
#evergreen#conifer#tsc#evergreen tree#tsc-cg#cpp
 
Thuja
Thuja leaf detail Andrew Fogg CC BY 2.0
Thuja
T. occidentalis seed cones S. Rae CC BY 2.0
Thuja
T. occidentalis pollen cones Plant Image Library CC-BY-SA 2.0
Thuja
'Green Giant' Leaves David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0
Thuja occidentalis
Cone André Karwath CC BY-SA 2.5
Thuja occidentalis
Foilage Crusier CC BY-SA 3.0
Thuja occidentalis
Ripe Fruit H. Zell CC BY-SA 3.0
Thuja plicata
Leaves Line1 CC BY-SA 3.0
Thuja occidentalis
Foilage Joshua Mayer CC-BY-SA 2.0
Thuja plicata
Leaves and Fruit Walter Siegmund (talk) CC BY-SA 3.0
Thuja
Bark Evelyn Simak CC-BY-SA 2.0
Thuja occidentalis 'Yelllow Ribbon'
Tree Ruff tuff cream puff CC0 1.0
Thuja occidentalis
Leaf Superior National Forest CC BY 2.0
Thuja plicata 'Zebrina'
Leaves Liné1 CC BY-SA 3.0
Leaf
Leaf Andy Mabbett CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Green Giant', T. occidentalis, T. plicata
Tags:
#evergreen#conifer#tsc#evergreen tree#tsc-cg#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Thuja
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America, parts of East Asia
    Distribution:
    Introduced to Europe
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Dense
    Pyramidal
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    No true fruit– female cones are oval-shaped, brown, and take a long time to develop. They open up to a flared shape.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    No true flowers– pollen cones are small and grow from the tips of the branches.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Small, scale-like leaves. Can be distinguished from Chamaecyparis by the lack of white markings underneath the leaves. Older leaves also have raised glands near the tip.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Scaly
    Bark Description:
    Brown to red-brown, fibrous bark.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No