Conifers
Green Giant arborvitae
Thuja 'Green Giant'
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Thuja 'Green Giant' forms a dense, narrow pyramid of dark green, scale-like foliage that provides structure through the year. This evergreen conifer is often planted as a tall privacy screen, and its mature size calls for substantial room: about 40–60 feet high and 12–18 feet wide. It grows in sun or partial shade, with steady soil moisture and good drainage. Avoid ground that stays wet, and set it back far enough from paths or buildings to accommodate its width. Its dark foliage and upright outline suit a year-round screen where the tree can grow to full height without crowding nearby plants.
Ask about this plantAt a glance
- Mature height
- About 40–60 feet
- Mature spread
- About 12–18 feet
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–8
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
The dense, narrow form works as a tall privacy screen. Plan for a tree that can eventually reach about 40–60 feet.
Where to plant
Choose full sun to partial shade and leave room for a spread of about 12–18 feet. Set it far enough from buildings and paths to accommodate that width.
Through the seasons
Dark green, scale-like foliage gives the screen year-round presence.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Check drainage during Southwest Washington's rainy season before planting. Choose a site where water does not persist around the roots.
Soil, drainage & water
Grow in moist, well-drained soil. Avoid sites that remain persistently wet.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Allow room for the tree's natural pyramidal form to develop. Check that nearby paths and plants will remain clear as it widens.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Cypress tip moth
On arborvitae, mined shoot tips may turn brown in late winter and show dark exit holes.
Help your plant thrive
Inspect browned tips for larvae, exit holes or cocoons before deciding on control.
Arborvitae leaf blight
On arborvitae, bleached spots may develop into tan or gray foliage with dark fungal fruiting bodies.
Help your plant thrive
Avoid overhead watering and leave space for air circulation. Inspect affected foliage before treating it as blight.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
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Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
Explore this plant
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
Explore this plant
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
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Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
Explore this plantGood gardens start with a conversation
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for your place.
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