Fire Chief™ Arborvitae (Thuja)
Shrub
- Fiery blazes of color on soft foliage.
- Disease, deer-resistant & cold hardy!
- Great as a specimen plant or for borders & hedges.
- Zones 5-8, full/partial Sun, 3-4' tall and wide at full maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Thuja leaves are flat with woody scales and vary in color. Arborvitae grows best in moist, well-drained soils, and requires very little care to flourish. Some varieties of this sun-loving plant can reach up to 50 feet tall at maturity, making them perfect for a lush privacy hedge. Watch out for deer, however; they seem to love these shrubs as much as we do!
Details
Common name: Arborvitae
Zone: 5 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 2-4′ high x 2-4′ wide
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Features: Space savers, proven winners, native, evergreens, container plants, cold tolerant, best sellers
Uses: Specimen, rock gardens, containers
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Water: Average.
Space: 4' 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, but can 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.
