AMERICAN ARBORVITA

Thuga occidentalis

Height: 20-40' Width: 10-20' Hardiness Zone: 3a Exposure: sun, light shade Origin: eastern North America from southeastern Manitoba and northern Minnesota east to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia south to Tennessee and North Carolina mountains.

Description:

American Arborvitae is a dense, pyramidal evergreen tree that is native in moist sites. Main trunk often divides into several leaders. The branches with scale-like foliage are displayed in horizontal sprays. Fruit is a small (3/8”) light brown cone. Native trees will get much larger than selected compact cultivars that are usually planted in landscapes.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Needs a rich, moist soil. Somewhat tolerant to wet soils. Will tolerate light shade but will be more open in growth habit. Can be readily sheared to produce a hedge or formal plant.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Arborvitae leaf miner is sometimes a problem in the northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canadian regions. Foliage of the species can turn an unattractive yellow-brown winter color. Selected cultivars maintain a more attractive winter foliage color.

Cultivars:

Technito™ -A more compact sport of ‘Techny’. It retains to dark green winter color
‘Hetz Midget’ -Dense round form to 2’. Slow grower. Good dark green foliage.
‘Holmstrup’ -Compact plant with an upright growth habit to 5-6’. Bright green color. ‘Pygmy Globe’ -A dwarf, globe form to 2’. Bright green color.
‘Pyramidalis’ -narrow, columnar form to 15-20’ tall and 4-6’ wide. Bright green color. ‘Rheingold’ -golden summer foliage turns copper gold in winter. Conical form to 5-6’ tall. ‘Sherwood Moss’ -Dwarf cone shaped plant with fine, feathery foliage. Develops bronze winter color.

‘Smaragd’ -Emerald Arborvitae has a compact pyramidal form and emerald green foliage the holds well in winter.

‘Sunkist’ – Dense upright form with flattened foliage with golden tips.

‘Techny’ – Broad, upright form to 15’. Dark green foliage color that is maintained well in winter.

‘Teddy’ – small globe shape with very fine textured feathery foliage. Blue green foliage becomes bronze tinged in winter.

‘ Woodwardii’ – Globe shaped to 3-4’. Good green color.

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org