Little Giant arborvitae

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; the densest growth develops with at least 6 hours of direct sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist, especially during establishment. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but prolonged drought can brown the foliage.

Soil

Moist, well-drained loam or clay; tolerates neutral to alkaline soil. Avoid persistently waterlogged sites and very dry, sandy ground.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), sometimes larger with age

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), sometimes wider with age

Foliage

Evergreen. Dense sprays of green, scale-like leaves with an aromatic scent when crushed; may develop bronze tones in cold winter weather.

Growth

Slow, usually a few inches each year.

Care needed

Low

• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.9 ft (0.57 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.1 ft (0.64 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.3 ft (0.71 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.8 ft (0.84 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons; check moisture beneath the surface before watering again.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency; avoid late-season nitrogen.
• Give plants room to reach their mature width rather than relying on frequent shearing.
• In cold climates, water before the ground freezes if autumn has been dry, and shelter exposed plants from drying winds.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed; lightly shorten stray green shoots in late spring or early summer to preserve the rounded shape. Remove dead branches when noticed, but do not cut into bare old wood, which usually will not regrow.

Early spring

Check for winter browning and broken branches; remove clearly dead or damaged growth.

Spring

Plant while the soil is workable, water thoroughly and refresh mulch without burying the stem bases.

Late spring

Lightly trim stray green shoots if needed; leave the natural globe shape intact.

Summer

Check soil moisture during hot weather and inspect foliage for mites or bagworms.

Autumn

Water during dry weather and remove fallen debris from the centre of the shrub.

Winter

Protect against deer where necessary and gently brush off loose, heavy snow; leave ice-coated branches alone.

• Repeat along a path or at border corners to create rounded evergreen punctuation.
• Use beneath windows where its slow growth and compact habit suit a low foundation planting.
• Pair with deciduous shrubs and flowering perennials to keep borders structured through winter.
• Plant in a low, informal hedge, spacing for mature width rather than clipping into a narrow wall.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Traditional, English country, Low-maintenance, Winter interest and Small-space.

Plant it with: Coral bells, Hostas, Astilbes, Panicle hydrangeas, Japanese forest grass and Siberian irises.

Wildlife: Dense foliage provides shelter for small birds. Deer readily browse it, especially in winter; its wind-pollinated reproductive structures offer little value to pollinating insects.

• Winter burn: exposed foliage can brown when frozen roots cannot replace moisture lost to sun and wind. Water during dry autumn weather, mulch the roots and use a wind screen on exposed sites.
• Deer browsing: deer can strip foliage, leaving bare wood that may not recover. Use a suitable deer fence or protect individual plants before browsing begins.
• Bagworms and spider mites: bagworms leave hanging cases; mites cause fine stippling and bronzing. Hand-pick bagworm cases before eggs hatch; rinse mites from foliage and use a locally approved treatment only if damage continues.
• Root rot: poorly drained soil can cause yellowing, wilting and branch death. Correct drainage, avoid overwatering and replace badly affected plants in a better-drained position.

Do not let people, cats, dogs or horses eat the foliage or cones. Thuja foliage contains potentially harmful aromatic compounds, including thujone; ingestion can cause digestive upset, and large amounts or concentrated oils may cause serious poisoning. The risk from this particular cultivar is not well quantified. Sap and foliage may also irritate sensitive skin.

• Danica arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Danica')

  Usually forms a smaller, tighter globe than Little Giant, although young plants are difficult to distinguish reliably without labels.

• Hetz Midget arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget')

  Another compact green globe, generally smaller at maturity; foliage alone is not a dependable way to separate young specimens.

• Golden Globe arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe')

  Has yellow to golden outer foliage rather than the predominantly green foliage of Little Giant.

Occidentalis means 'western', while arborvitae means 'tree of life', a name associated with the historical use of northern white cedar by Indigenous peoples to treat scurvy.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Rooting can be slow; seed-grown plants will not reliably retain the cultivar's dwarf, rounded habit.

Accepted botanical name

Thuja occidentalis

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick and New Hampshire.

Measured

Soil pH 5.2 to 7. Average height 1460 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.