Junior Giant Arborvitae
Thuja 'Junior Giant'
Height: 15 feet
Spacing: 4 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Other Names: Junior Giant Cedar
Description:
Green Giant's baby brother; a dense, compact, upright evergreen that grows uniformly and is perfect for privacy or wind screening in a smaller space; very resilient and resists ice and snow damage, grows in almost any soil type
Ornamental Features
Junior Giant Arborvitae is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has rich green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage remain green throughout the winter. The shaggy brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes
Junior Giant Arborvitae is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Junior Giant Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Vertical Accent
- Hedges/Screening
Planting & Growing
Junior Giant Arborvitae will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 4 feet apart. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
