Golden Acre Home & Garden Centre's Plant Library

Other Names:  Steeplechase Cedar

Description:

An uncommon garden evergreen with showy, dark glossy green foliage on upswept branches; ideal as an accent, hedge or screen, takes pruning well; protect from drying winter winds

Ornamental Features

Steeplechase Arborvitae is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The glossy scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Steeplechase Arborvitae is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub 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 shrub. 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.

Steeplechase Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Steeplechase Arborvitae will grow to be about 18 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. 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 approximately 30 years.

This shrub 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.