Cedar, White (American Arborvitae)
Northern White Cedar, American Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
Family: Cupressaceae
10-18" tall at sale, bare root
3-1
Native to Vermont
Sourced from New York
Popular privacy hedge
General Information
Recommended Spacing (ft)
10 - 12
Mature Width (ft)
10 - 15
Mature Height (ft)
30 - 50
Annual Growth Rate (in)
13 - 24
Sun Preference
Full Sun
Soil Type
Sandy loam, Loam, Clay
Soil Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Description
Many people choose Northern White Cedar, American Arborvitae for privacy screening because of its dense growth form, year-round greenery, and responsiveness to shaping. For a low-maintenance hedge, plant trees three feet apart. It is naturally a smaller (30-50′) evergreen tree of coastal bogs and swamps, where it grows in dense stands. It is extremely tolerant of shade and saturated soil, but it will grow faster in well-drained locations with full sun. Its fissured, fibrous bark, thick trunk, and broad base, make it strikingly beautiful. The wood is lightweight and rot-resistant. During harsh winters deer prefer it for both browse and shelter, and it provides important habitat for white-throated sparrows, kinglets, and a variety of warblers.
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