Thuja recommendation?

Am new to thuja's and I am looking for suggestion of a non-screening Thuja. Something broad and pyramidal. It will be for privacy somewhat, but I just want one or two as part of a mixed tree and shrub area. Of course, I want good winter color and fast growing. I like the looser open foliage rather than the tight dense stiff soldier kinds. It will get morning sun. And it is in dry soil with pine tree root competition, but I do irrigate until they get established. Are there some kinds that have a central leader? Does that make it be more pyramidal rather than columnar?

The cultivar 'Techny' also listed as 'Mission' (Thuja occidentalis) has a broadly pyramidal, or upright oval, shape. It's a fast grower, to 12' tall by 4' wide, and has dark-green foliage year-round. I have observed that it may have more than one central leader. It's commonly available, and relatively cheap.

Before you go and look into a Thuja, take a look at Xanthocyparis nootkatensis http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54339/index.html
This tree works very well in a mixed planting and is very gracefull. I've noticed they are being used more often in high-end residential plantings.

Yes, that's the look I'm looking for. I thought that was Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ("they" changing names again?) I actually have a C. n 'glauca', but its all of 8" tall and probably won't fill the spot in my lifetime!!

I was under the impression it needed more sun than morning sun. Maybe that's only 'glauca' to keep the color??? I'll go do some looking around.

For your situation, you might try to find the typical form instead of one of the weeping cultivars that all the discount stores sell. It will blend in better with other plantings and not try to grab the spotlight. You might have to do some hard looking to find one though.

Guy S.

Guy's got it. The regular one will do just fine with the right affect. It should do fine with only morning sun, just give it a bit of space to grow with (uncrowded). I guess they did change the name 'cause when I went looking for it in PF's, it was a different name. I'm so surprised at how close they plant this tree to homes - only a couple of feet - and it works.

I'm a little confused. In the PF pictures, are those 'Pendula' or is non-'Pendula' still somewhat pendulous. I especially like the first photo by designart. It doesn't seem very pendulous, but maybe thats an age thing???? Is the last picture a 'Pendula'? Its very beautiful but I personally think its a bit imposing in front of the house. I wonder how many years old that is. I bet from a distance it has a great affect though.

And Guy's picture seems unusally broad compared to the others. Is that a particular variety?

I happened to be at a garden center today and walked by the Thuja's. One called 'nigra' had a nice open habit. Is that a good Thuja? No Alaskan Cedar's though. I have more than one spot where I could use a tree like this.

duh... I just got it. Guy's picture of the unusually broad one is non-'Pendula'. Nice, but I don't have that much room in this spot. I think that's why I thought about THuja in the first place.

Hi Plantaholic,

There are many clones of Nootka Cypress 'Pendula' in the trade. And, since you were wanting a faster growing tree, Nootka cypress (all culitvars of) won't fit that bill. That is, unless, you would be happy with one foot of growth per year. They are among the most magestic conifers, in my opinion, however.

You might consider Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' which I have a few photos of, however the plant isn't very wide, in fact, it's pretty narrow...It does grow a lot though per year, 2-3 feet on average which is very fast for a Thuja occidentalis.

Another "lost" clone in the trade that is striking is Thuja occidentalis 'Pyramidalis' having a similar growth habit to 'Hetz Wintergreen' but growing considerably slower not making it a good choice for your situation, but for others looking for slower growth and similar form, a great choice.

Here's the photos.

'Hetz Wintergreen' outside of hybid Thuja 'Green Giant' would be your best choice. Just like occidentalis 'Pyramidalis', this tree will be 5-10 feet wide at 20-30 feet (at the base) but narrowing sharply to its' top.

Regards,

Dax

Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen'

'Hetz Wintergreen' (foliage) which happens to hold it's color in the winter.

And an old photo without the best image sharpness of a grouping of these plants:

Dax

I would have expected the conifer-holics to have mentioned Thuja plicata by now, other than 'Green Giant'. I think the western red cedar fits the categories that plantaholic2 specifies, and there are a number of clones to select from (including the zone 4/5 'Deer Proof', 'Spring Grove', 'Virescens', 'Atrovirens', 'Excelsa', and others).

This is a relatively narrow (but broader than Thuja occidentalis) single stemmed conifer with generally more open habit than the eastern arborvitae. Good grower in the eastern US, taking wetter soils in stride better than most conifers, and different than all the pines and spruces typically used.

Well, that gives me plenty of names to go for. Image Googling and PF finds quite a variety of pictures, but they really vary. Sometimes narrow, sometimes broad, for a particular cultivar.

From what I can tell, I think I like 'Green Giant' and 'Techny' but I guess I have to see them in person.

When I am shopping, is the shape I see (columnar, pyramidal, etc.) going to be the adult shape?

Are all Thuja occidentalis multi-leader?

If plicata takes wetter soils, does that imply it won't do as well in dry soils?

T. plicata does ok in drier soil but prefers more moisture. I've seen several Xanthocyparis nootkatensis planted within 5' of the building and it works. I think the pics of those are mixed up. In a mixed planting they are more open than Guys pic in the open.

Not sure where Nashua is in MA, but the Arnold Arboretum could give you some background on performance of Thuja plicata in the Boston area. See this link as a starter:

http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/names1?ETI=Thuja+plicata

and here's the home page:

http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/plants.html

Thuja plicata and Thuja occidentalis are really different plants; be sure of which category you wish to be in before choosing. 'Green Giant' is going to land in the Giant Arborvitae league and 'Techny' in the Eastern Arborvitae league. Don't know if either have made the playoffs.

To answer your questions:

Not necessarily, because producers aim for density and uniform shape when growing plants for the retail market (Eye Candy) and thus shear conifers to some predetermined form which could be columnar, pyramidal, cueball, spiral, etc.).

No, but most produced for the retail trade are, because it isn't the problem of the grower when yours grows up and then splits in heavy snow and ice. Caveat emptor

As well is always relative. It implies that no more for Thuja plicata than for many other plants found in wetter sites naturally. As for what will/won't do as well in cultivated situations when native to wet sites: ask anyone who owns (or is owned by) a silver maple (Acer saccharinum) or a weeping willow (Salix spp.).

My state is MA. My city is "near Nashua" (which is in NH at the state border). Guess it doesn't come out right when put together :-)

Unfortunately (for me) AA is zone 6. A great place (thanks for the link, nice browse I just had), but I still have to be careful hardiness-wise.

Thanks for everyone's input. Off to the nursery...

Yep, you had me fooled. Couldn't find a Nashua, MA for love nor Thuja. I now understand.

For colder info, here's a nifty chart from UMaine, and their home site:

http://www.umaine.edu/lhc/facandres.htm
http://www.umaine.edu/mafes/elec_pubs/techbulletins/tb156.pdf

I noticed that Thuja plicata is NOT referenced. Additionally, you could refer to these fine folks for hardiness performance:

http://www.wmnurseries.com/nursery/merchant.mvc

They have Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' listed.

Have fun; happy shopping!