Other Names:  Giant Arborvitae, Western Red Cedar

Description:

A stunning evergreen shrub, forming a compact mounded pyramid; features deep golden-tipped foliage fading to bright green, ideal for use as a year-round color accent in the shrub or rock garden; performs best in moist, humid environments but adaptable

Ornamental Features

Cuprea Arborvitae is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive gold evergreen foliage which emerges harvest gold in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain gold throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Cuprea 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.

Cuprea Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Cuprea Arborvitae will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

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 is a selection of a native North American species.