American Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood, Native
Plant Family
Cupressaceae
Tree Category
Evergreen, Ornamental, Privacy Screen
Variety / Cultivar
Likely 'Smaragd' (Emerald Green) or 'Fastigiata' (Pyramidalis) given the columnar habit.
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; highly cold tolerant but sensitive to extreme heat and dry winds.
About This Tree
A dense, narrow, columnar to pyramidal evergreen tree. It features vertical sprays of scale-like foliage and a multi-leader growth habit. It grows at a slow to moderate rate and maintains a tight, formal shape with minimal pruning.
Leaf Characteristics
Scale-like, flattened sprays of overlapping leaves; bright to dark green in color; aromatic when crushed; arranged in fan-like sprays on the branches.
Bark Characteristics
Reddish-brown to grey-brown; features thin, longitudinal strips that shred or peel with age; often hidden by low-branching foliage.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern North America (Canada and Northern US), widely adapted across temperate zones.
Growing Season
Evergreen year-round; produces small cones in late summer/fall; remains dormant in winter though foliage may bronze slightly.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade; prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils; requires regular watering during establishment; low drought tolerance.
Mature Size
Typically 20-30 feet tall and 5-10 feet wide (cultivar dependent); can live 50-150 years in landscape settings.
Special Characteristics
High deer palatability (a disadvantage); strong windbreak potential; excellent salt tolerance; used frequently for living fences and privacy hedging.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical winter cover and nesting sites for songbirds; seeds from small cones provide food for crossbills and pine siskins; foliage is a primary winter food source for white-tailed deer.