Spring Grove® Western Arborvitae (Thuja)
Shrub
- Fast growing evergreen!
- Naturally maintains a tight pyramidal habit- no pruning needed.
- Fragrant evergreen foliage from Proven Winners.
- Native and more cold tolerant than other Western arborvitae.
- Zones 5-8, sun/part sun, 30' tall x 15' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Arborvitae - Western
Zone: 5 - 8
Sun exposure: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to par-sun (4-6 hrs sun/day)
Height x width: 25-30' tall x 12-15' wide
Flower color: Evergreen conifer, does not flower
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Bloom time: Grown for foliage
Features: Proven Winners, privacy & screening, native, heat tolerant, evergreen
Uses: Specimen, hedge, perennial gardens, landscaping
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part-sun (4-6 hrs sun/day)
Water: Average.
Space: 12-15' apart.
Fertilizing: Apply a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring if desired.
Winterizing: A good 2-3" layer of mulch is recommended; Avoid extreme dry soil in autumn, which can cause the evergreen foliage to dry out in winter.
Maintenance: No pruning is required. May be trimmed if desired.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
The Spring Grove Western Arborvitae has been a game-changer for my garden! This evergreen is perfect for creating a beautiful, year-round privacy screen with its dense, lush foliage. The rich green color stays vibrant even in winter, which is something I’ve struggled to find in other shrubs.
One thing I love about the Spring Grove is its fast growth rate—it fills in quickly, so you don’t have to wait years to enjoy a full, natural barrier. Its upright and narrow shape makes it ideal for small spaces or lining a fence without taking over the yard. Despite its narrow profile, it has a wonderfully dense structure that really blocks out noise and adds a sense of seclusion.
This arborvitae is also incredibly low-maintenance and hardy. It withstands cold weather, heat, and even some drought once established, making it a resilient choice for most climates. For anyone looking to add privacy or a lush backdrop to their landscape, the Spring Grove Western Arborvitae is a fantastic investment. Highly recommend!
All 13 stayed green and look good after about 3 months.
Sadly, four of the six Western Arborvitae I purchased from you are dead. Despite my best efforts to help them thrive by making sure they were well covered on the two nights we had a bit of from, to making sure they were watered, four of them are completely dead. I would be glad to return them to you for either replacements or a refund. Please advise. Pictures attaches. Susan Fagin
The weather in Michigan has had swings from cold, to hot and humid, and now cold again. There is still much yellow on the branches of 2/3 of the trees sent. We are hoping the weather stablizes so we can plant these Memorial Weekend. We may have to return some of the trees that don't appear healthy.
What causes some branches on spring grove arborvitaes to turn yellow brown and shed off. Trees were planted April 2024
Hi there! There's a few reasons why your arborvitae may be turning yellow/brown including overwatering, nutrient deficiency and natural foliage drop. Check out our gardening article all about arborvitae for more information:
https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/questions-answered-series-arborvitae-thuja/
Do deer like to eat Spring Grove foliage?
Hi there! Arborvitae aren't very deer resistant so you'll want to use a deer repellant spray or even fencing to deter deer.
Usually the spacing guideline is smaller than the mature width of the plant. Here the spacing and width are the same which suggests they won't touch until fully mature and even then they'll just barely touch and won't form a very good privacy screen. Is that spacing guideline correct?
Our recommended spacing for this tree is 12-15" apart to create a privacy screening. The base of this tree will be more fuller then the top part. If you want a tighter hedging you can plant 12 feet apart. The plant calculator is correct.
Approximately how tall is a plant in a one quart pot do you have different sizes available
The Spring Grove Western Arbovitae is only available in the one quart pot. It's hard to say for sure how tall it will be because there are so many factors involved including the time of year and the last time the plant was trimmed.
Which zone is this for? Picture says 3+, description says 5+. We get windchills in SD to -35 sometimes during the Winter. My city is a zone 5. I’m hesitant to buy zone 5 plants.
The zone for this Arborvitae is 5-8. Seeing as you are in zone 5 this plant should be ok. You may want to take some extra precautions, covering the tree or mulching the base well while young can help it survive those colder days.