Other Names:  Eastern White Cedar

Description:

An uncommon garden evergreen with very showy emerging gold sprays that progresses to a dark glossy green; fall color is a soft brown; ideal where a conical color accent shrub is called for, take pruning well; protect from drying winter winds

Ornamental Features

Aureospicata Arborvitae is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive yellow-spotted dark green foliage which emerges gold in spring. The glossy scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and turn brown in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Aureospicata Arborvitae is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree 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 tree. 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.

Aureospicata Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Aureospicata Arborvitae will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 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 tree 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.