Thuja 'Green Giant' is a fast growing pyramidal evergreen prized for its dense foliage and impressive height, making it a popular choice for privacy screens and windbreaks. Its rich green scale like needles remain vibrant year round and the tree naturally resists many pests and diseases. It tolerates heat, humidity, and occasional drought once established making it a low maintenance solution for large spaces needing vertical structure.
Height & Spread: 30 - 50 ft x 10 - 15 ft
Bloom Time: Non flowering
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil; adaptable to a range of conditions
Watering Needs: Moderate when young, low once established
Deer Resistance: Moderately resistant to deer browsing
Native Status
This cultivar is a hybrid between Thuja plicata and Thuja standishii, originating from North America and Japan. It is not a naturally occurring species but widely cultivated in North American landscapes.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Offers year round shelter for songbirds such as chickadees, sparrows, and cardinals which also forage in its dense branches.
Beneficial Insects
- Provides habitat for predatory insects like lacewings and ladybugs that aid in controlling garden pests.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 5 - 7 ft apart for screening or 10 - 12 ft apart as individual specimens.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for tall hedges, property borders, windbreaks, or as a standalone vertical element in expansive gardens.
Companion Plants
- Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' - Narrow vertical plumes pair well with Thuja’s columnar habit.
- Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' - Upright ornamental grass adds texture and softness alongside arborvitae rows.
- Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' - Light green to white blooms offer color contrast and thrive at the base of evergreen screens.
- Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood) - Rounded evergreen shapes create structured layers below towering thuja forms.
- Hosta 'Patriot' - Variegated foliage brings brightness to shaded soil near the tree’s base.