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Yellow thujas. Thuja varieties with photos and descriptions, which ones to choose for the garden

Yellow thujas. Thuja varieties with photos and descriptions, which ones to choose for the garden

Thuja or tree of life, the genus is represented by monoecious trees and shrubs. Tall types of thuja develop into a columnar tree with a regular crown shape. Thujas are very similar to cypress trees and at first glance these two genera are not easy to distinguish from each other. Distinctive feature is the shape of flat and ribbed needle-leaves, the different structure of the cones and the typical thuja smell emanating from large oil glands.

Young thujas have needle-shaped, prickly, protruding leaves. They gradually fall off, being replaced by scale-like opposite, cross-lying leaves that are located on the branches in the same plane. Therefore, young plants can have both types of leaves, needle-shaped and scaly. Adult plants do not have needle-like leaves.

In cypress, the cones are round in shape and small, reminiscent of the cones of a real cypress; in thuja, the cones at the ends of the shoots are more or less ovoid-oblong, their scales are leathery-woody, consist of three to six pairs of leathery scales overlapping each other, at the top along the edge there are a few bent.

The genus Thuja consists of only 6 species, growing like cypress in North America and East Asia, arborvitae are not as diverse in color and shape as Cypress (Chamaecyparis). But thujas are a very valuable group among evergreen conifers for landscaping large cities, large, medium and small garden plots in the middle zone. Thuja is the most common slender evergreen for wind-resistant hedges, both molded and free-growing. Thujas are moisture-loving and grow well in fresh or moist fertile soils.

The most popular species, Thuja occidentalis (Western Thuja), has more than 120 garden forms that differ in the nature of the crown or color.

Some types of thuja are not frost-resistant, so we will focus on those that can grow throughout Ukraine without any problems.

The most frost-resistant decorative thuja species and varieties are:

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) was introduced to Europe in 1536.

Thuja occidentalis is known in America as the "American Tree of Life" and is obtained from its leaves. essential oils used for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Thuja occidentalis is a monoecious evergreen coniferous tree, less commonly a shrub, native to the cold and humid northwestern regions of America and Canada. Grows in cold, marshy soils in boreal coniferous forests. Quite fast-growing trees, annual growth is 25-30 cm in height and about 10 cm in width, trees are mostly 15-20 m tall, rare specimens up to 38 m in height, and 3-4 m up to 6 m .width. In youth, trees have a regular, dense, slender cone-shaped or pyramidal crown, with short, elevated-horizontal or slightly outward-directed branches; with age, they become looser in most cases, ovoid in shape. Under natural conditions, trees live for more than 1,500 years. The scaly needles are often located like tiles, tightly pressed to the shoot, shiny, rich green, bronze-brown in winter. It functions for 3 years and then falls off in a place with small branches. The cones are small, oblong-elliptical, 8-12 mm. long, each consists of 3-5 pairs of thin scales, initially yellow-green when ripe, brown, ripen in the first autumn. The roots are superficial with several main deep branched roots. Shade-tolerant, but prefers light to light shade places. Winter hardiness is high, shoots ripen completely. A moisture-loving plant, it grows well with sufficient moisture in acidic soils, optimally in fresh or moist nutrient-rich sandy-clay alkaline soils. In general, it has low requirements for soil and moisture, is sensitive to prolonged drought but tolerates dry soil and air well. It is wind-resistant, perfectly trimmed and shaped, it is possible to form a crown both in height and width, it grows well, has high regeneration capabilities, tolerates replanting well even in adulthood, develops well in damp and swampy places, tolerates urban climate and polluted air. Thuja occidentalis is the most beneficial material for landscaping public gardens, city parks, summer cottages and garden plots. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thanks to its high decorativeness and a large number artificially bred garden forms (cultivators), durability, high frost resistance and resistance to urban conditions and polluted air, thuja occidentalis is very widespread in decorative landscaping on all continents. Let's consider the most decorative forms:

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Aureospicata"

A low tree with a wide-conical crown, reaching 4-5 m in height and about 1 m in width. The growth rate is above average, at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 3 m in height. The branches are rigid, numerous, strongly branched, tightly pressed to each other, grow evenly. The crown is dense, slender and regular. The needles are dark green, golden on young growths, creating the effect of sun glare. Needs fertile and moist soil. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for creating hedges and trellises. Planting frequency per row: 0.8-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Aurescens"

Quite a new tall bright conical Polish variety, but has already become extremely popular. The growth rate is average, at 10 years it reaches about 2.5 m in height. An adult plant is about 10 m tall and 1.5 m wide. The branches are dense and grow evenly. The crown is slender, regular and dense. The needles are yellow-green, young growths are bright golden-yellow, creating the effect of radiating heat. Photophilous, needs fertile and moist soil. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for mixed colorful compositions, trellises and hedges. Planting density in a row is 0.7 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Brabant"

The most popular variety of western thuja for creating tall, shaped hedges. A tall, fast-growing tree, grows faster than the wild species, annual growth is about 30-35 cm in height and about 10 cm in width, by 10 years it reaches more than 3.5 m in height and 1 m in width. Mature trees are 15-20 m tall and 3-4 (6) m wide. A tree with a dense cone-shaped crown and a straight trunk; several trunks are often formed, horizontally or arcuately arranged with very densely branched branches. The needles are fresh green and do not change color in winter. Roots, location, soil and characteristics, see Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for forming trellises and hedges. Planting density in a row is 0.5-0.7 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Columna"

A popular variety of western thuja for creating narrow, tall hedges. A tree with a dense, narrow-columnar, slender crown shape, often forming several trunks, with raised-horizontal, closely pressed short branches. The needles are shiny dark green, retaining their color in winter. The growth rate is above average, the annual increase in height is 15 cm, width is 5 cm, at 10 years it reaches up to 3 m in height. The dimensions of an adult plant are 5-8 (10) m high and 1.5 m wide. Location, roots, soil and features as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for free-growing and trimmed hedges. Planting frequency in a row is 0.5-0.7 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Danica"

A spherical, dense, very slow-growing small shrub. At the age of 20 years, 0.5 m tall. An adult plant is 0.6-0.8 tall and 1 m wide. The needles are shiny light green in color and turn a little brown in winter. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for small garden plots, rocky gardens and living borders. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Europe Gold"

A bright, low, slender, often multi-stemmed tree. Slow growing, annual growth 10-12 cm in height. An adult plant reaches 3 m in height and up to 1 m in width. The crown in youth is columnar and becomes pyramidal with age. Old needles are light green, one-year old needles are bright golden yellow, retaining color in winter. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for color compositions, creating hedges and trellises. Planting step: 0.6 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Filiformis"

An unusual small, slow-growing tree, 1.5-1.8 m tall, crown diameter equal to height. Annual growth rarely exceeds 2-3 cm. The branches are long, thin, drooping, thread-like, weakly branched, and grow unevenly. The crown is asymmetrical, dense, broadly pyramidal or broadly columnar, with a rounded top. The needles are green, fresh green on young growths, turning brownish-brown in winter. Shade-tolerant, can grow in conditions of significant shading, without losing its decorative effect. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for small gardens and Japanese gardens, in the design of rocky and alpine hills. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Frieslandia"

Wide-conical, fairly tall, fast-growing tree. A variety similar to Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ but lower and wider. Grows a little slower than ‘Brabant’ at the age of 10 years up to 3 m in height. An adult plant is about 8 m high, 4-5 m wide. The branches are dense, rather thick, very densely branched, covered with shiny light green scales. The ends of young growths are yellowish. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Used for hedges and trellises. Planting step: 0.8-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Globosa"

The popular spherical shape of the thuja. It grows slowly, adding about 5-10 cm annually, and at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 1 m in width and height. An adult plant is 1.5 m high and wide. The branches are short, numerous, highly branched, straight, grow evenly, covered with grayish-green needles, light green on young growths, and in winter acquires a bronze-brown color. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. It is recommended to plant in large compositions. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Golden Globe"

Bright spherical shape of thuja. It grows slowly, adding about 5-8 cm annually, and at the age of 10 years it reaches approximately 0.8 m in height and width. An adult plant is about 1.2 m high and wide. The crown is round, symmetrical and dense. The branches are short, straight, numerous, grow evenly, covered with bright golden-yellow needles, becoming light orange closer to winter. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. It is recommended to plant in small gardens and color compositions. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Holmstrup"

Conical low grade. Slow-growing with a regular, very dense crown, horizontal short, densely spaced fan-shaped branches. The annual growth is 12-15 cm in height, 4 cm in width. The dimensions of an adult plant are 3-4 m in height and 0.8-1 (1.2) m in width. The needles are rich green and do not change color in winter. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for growing in containers and hedges. Landing pitch: 2 pcs. per linear m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis "Holmstrup's Yellow"

Mutation of the variety "Holmstrup". The plant is broadly cone-shaped and regular in shape. Slow growing, at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 2 m in height. The dimensions of an adult plant are 3-4 m in height and about 1.5-2 m in width. The branches are exclusively free-growing. The needles are bright sulfur-yellow and do not change color in winter. Other signs and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for colorful garden compositions and hedges. Landing pitch: 2 pcs. per linear m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Janed Gold" ("Golden Smaragd")

A new Polish variety originating from one of the most popular varieties of thuja occidentalis "Smaragd". A large shrub with a regular narrow-columnar crown, slow-growing, reaching about 2 m in height at the age of 10 years. The dimensions of an adult plant are 4-6 m in height and about 1-1.8 in width. The branches are tender and very densely located. The needles are soft to the touch, all year round yellow-green in color, bright golden-yellow at the tips. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. The variety received the bronze medal “Green is Life” in Warsaw in 2008. Recommended for hedges. Planting spacing in a row: 0.5-0.6 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Malonyana"

Czech variety. A tall, very narrowly columnar, slender tree. Fast-growing, reaches more than 3 m in height and 0.5 m in width at the age of 10 years. An adult plant reaches 15-18 m in height and only 2.2-3.0 m in width. The shoots are short, densely spaced, tightly pressed to each other and to the trunk. The crown is narrow and very dense. The needles are shiny, languid green; in winter the tonality of the needles is maintained. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for tall hedges. Planting spacing in a row: 0.6-0.8 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Smaragd"

One of the most popular garden varieties of thuja. A large shrub with a narrow, regular cone-shaped crown and vertical, very densely spaced branches. Characterized by moderate growth, annual growth is about 10 cm in height, 4 cm in width, reaching up to 2.5 m in height at 10 years. The dimensions of an adult plant are 4-6 m high and 1-1.8 m wide. The needles are tender, shiny and rich green all year round. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for growing in containers and for hedges. Planting frequency in a row: every 0.5-0.6 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja occidentalis (western thuja) "Sunkist"

A very decorative wide cone-shaped large shrub, with very densely branched vertical branches slightly twisted like a shell, with changing color of the needles. In youth, it grows slowly, later grows quickly, at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 2 m in height. The dimensions of an adult plant are 3-5 m high and 1-2 m wide. The needles are golden yellow, bright yellow when blooming, and bronze in winter. Other characteristics, roots, soil and features are the same as Thuja occidentalis. Recommended for colorful compositions, for the formation of bright trellises and hedges. Planting frequency in a row: every 0.5-0.6 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A

Thuja plicata (thuja folded or giant thuja)

The distribution area in nature of the greatest of the thujas, the folded thuja or the giant thuja coast Pacific Ocean North America, grows along the coast from southern Alaska to Northern California, in moist - damp, even marshy soils, mostly slightly acidic, along river banks, in lowlands and shady forests on slopes, in rain-rich, humid areas with cool summers and relatively mild winters. Rising above the area like a green pyramid, locals call it the Western Red Cedar or the Giant Tree of Life. An evergreen large slender pyramidal or conical tree, with short, very densely spaced strictly vertical branches and somewhat drooping flat shoots; the dense shape of the crown remains the same as it ages, becoming only slightly wider. The lower branches hang down to the ground. Trees are 60 m tall with a trunk diameter of 2.5 m; there are individual specimens 75 m tall and up to 6 m trunk diameter. The needles are arranged crosswise, shiny glossy green on the top, the underside with whitish stomatal stripes, and fragrant when rubbed. The cones are leathery, oblong-ovate, 12 mm. long, green in summer, brown in winter. Durable, lives up to 500-800 years. Fast-growing, annual growth of more than 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width. Shade-tolerant but prefers bright places, resistant to low temperatures, but does not tolerate dry soil and air. It is undemanding to the pH value, grows well on all cultivated acidic and alkaline soils, especially on fairly moist soils. In wetlands, along river banks and near the sea, it reaches its largest size. It is wind-resistant, tolerates urban climates, and tolerates shearing well. Grows successfully on damp slopes and lowlands, along river banks and swamps. The typical form of thuja folded is good for creating groups, alleys. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Thuja foldata has a number of decorative varieties:

Thuja plicata "Atrovirens"

A fast-growing variety with a cone-shaped dense crown. At the age of 10 years it reaches up to 4 m in height and about 1 m in width. The dimensions of an adult plant are 15 m high and 3-5 m wide. The branches are quite thick, hard, very dense, and located horizontally. The dense crown continues with age. The needles are dark green with a strong shine. Other characteristics, soil and features as Thuja plicata. Recommended for single plantings in large gardens and parks, for formed high hedges. Planting step: 0.8-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Thuja plicata "Aurescens"

A fast-growing cone-shaped tree, with arched vertical very densely spaced branches, the ends of the shoots slightly drooping, with age the crown becomes wider but the branches remain growing from the ground and very dense. Annual growth is 20-30 cm in height, 10-15 cm in width. The size of an adult plant is 8-12 m, less often up to 15 m in height and 3-4 m in width. The needles are shiny green with white stripes, green-yellow on young shoots. Grows in all fresh or moist nutrient-rich, drained soils, from acid to alkaline. Frost-resistant, wind-resistant, tolerates urban climate, tolerates shearing well, prefers high air humidity, in winter you need to take care of soil moisture. Recommended for formed tall hedges. Planting step: 0.6-0.8 m. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Thuja plicata "Excelsa"

A cone-shaped, very fast-growing, tall, slender tree, with vertically arched branches growing horizontally in the lower part of the trunk. Annual growth is more than 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width, at the age of 10 years about 4 m in height. An adult plant reaches 12-15 m in height and 3-5 m in width. The needles are dark green, coarse, strong, much larger than those of the wild species. Frost-resistant, shade-tolerant, wind-resistant, tolerates urban conditions, tolerates shearing well. Grows in all fresh or moist nutrient-rich, drained soils, from acid to alkaline. Recommended for single plantings in large gardens and parks, for very tall free-growing and formed high hedges. Planting step: 0.8-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Thuja plicata "Gelderland"

A tall, very dense, fast-growing, cone-shaped variety, at the age of 10 years it is about 4 m tall. The height of an adult plant is 12-15 m. The shoots are hard, densely arranged, shiny green in summer, and will acquire a bright yellow tint in winter. Needs fairly fertile and moist soil. Shade-tolerant, tolerates shearing well, tolerates urban conditions. Recommended for large gardens and parks, for solitaire planting, for tall hedges. Planting pitch: 0.6-0.8 m. Winter hardiness zone 6A

Thuja is an excellent material for landscaping large cities, squares and parks, large and small garden plots. Thujas tolerate transplantation well even in adulthood, especially if it is done in the spring. When planting, do not bury the root collar. Thuja is one of the best plants for evergreen free-growing and trimmed hedges, perfectly trimmed and shaped. When planting hedges, do not forget that young plant will become an adult, so maintain the required distance between seedlings. Garden forms are propagated only vegetatively by lignified or green cuttings, since with seed propagation the reproducibility of the required characteristics is insignificant.

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Thuja Thya is a coniferous plant from the cypress family. There are five species of trees or shrubs in the genus, but in Russia the most popular species of Thuja occidentalis in ornamental gardening is native to North America and came to Europe in 1536.

Description of the western thuja

This is a slowly growing tree, reaching a height of 15-20 m, although taller specimens are also found in nature, but this is already rare. The crown of the western thuja is pyramidal or ovoid, while that of the original species is rather spreading. Root system compact.

The bark at a young age is brick-brown, smooth, over time it becomes gray-brown; in a tree with more than ten years of history, the bark on the trunk has deep longitudinal cracks and is fibrous.

The needles of the thuja are scaly, green and very small, 2-4 mm long, covering the branches like scales. The lifespan of the foliage is a maximum of 2-3 years, then it falls off, but not one at a time, but in small branches, the crown is renewed gradually and imperceptibly. By winter, the needles discolor to yellowish-green or Brown. The concept of “evergreen plant” for thuja is relative; if spruce or pine do not change the shade of their needles at all in winter, then most varieties of western thuja paint the garden yellow-brownish or light green.

The flowers are not decorative - monoecious, apical, solitary. The cones are also small, about 1 cm long, ovoid in shape. Each cone contains two yellow winged seeds.

The wood when cut is reddish in color, often interspersed with brown, yellow and red veins. The wood is soft and durable, does not contain resin, does not rot and could be beautiful furniture material, but didn’t find it wide application– this is hampered by too slow growth of mass and fibrous bark.

Peculiarities

Thuja is very popular not only in private gardens, but is also widely used for urban landscaping, since the plant is extremely unpretentious to the ecology of the city: it tolerates gas pollution, dust and smoke well. It takes root easily after transplantation, lends itself well to pruning and shearing; some varieties do not require shape correction at all - they grow on their own in a pyramid, ball or cone. In addition, the western thuja and its varieties are winter-hardy (frost hardiness zones from 2b to 8b, this is approximately down to minus 36°C in winter without shelter).

Varieties and varieties of thuja occidentalis

Western thuja has several decorative forms:

  • weeping
  • columnar (pyramidal)
  • hemisphere
  • spherical

According to the color of foliage (needles) of the variety:

  • variegated (several color variations)
  • with green leaves

By tallness:

  • full-grown from 5 m or more
  • semi-dwarf from 3 to 5 m
  • dwarf – mature trees up to 3 m
  • miniature – less than 3 m tall

In terms of frost resistance: there are varieties that easily tolerate winters in central Russia, and there are varieties that require mandatory shelter.

Here are some frost-resistant ones:

  • Danica (Danica) - a miniature variety up to 60 cm or slightly higher in height, spherical in shape, winter hardiness - 3 climate zone.
  • Globosa is a spherical miniature thuja, an adult no more than 2 m, grows very slowly, winter hardiness - climate zone 3.
  • Golden Globe - semi-dwarf spherical, slow growth rate, very frost-resistant - climate zone 2b.
  • Wagneri - narrow-conical, semi-dwarf (up to 3.5 m), fast-growing, winter hardiness - climate zone 4.
  • Woodwardii (‘Woodwardii) is a semi-dwarf, wide-rounded form, grows slowly, winter hardiness - climate zone 4.
  • Hoseri - spherical, fast-growing, up to 2 meters high, winter hardiness - climate zone 3.
  • Brabant - conical, fast-growing, the variety is similar to Smaragd, but the growth rate is 2-3 times higher, winter hardiness - climate zone 3.
  • Sunkist - conical thuja of semi-dwarf growth, grows slowly, very frost-resistant - climate zone 2b.
  • Tiny Tim is a miniature variety of thuja, no more than 1 m high, spherical in shape, grows slowly, winter hardiness - climate zone 3.
  • Holmstrup is a conical semi-dwarf variety, grows slowly, winter hardiness - climate zone 3.
  • (Smaragd) - a columnar, slow-growing variety, 3-5 m high - average frost resistance - if all the above mentioned varieties can be grown in the conditions of Siberia and the Urals, then Smaragd freezes at temperatures below minus 25-26.

When choosing a variety, consider not only its size, shape and frost resistance, but also its general unpretentiousness. Some do not tolerate shade, even light partial shade, others do not tolerate long thaws in winter (with sudden temperature changes), as this provokes early sap flow. Some varieties require little to no pruning, while others require systematic pruning. There are varieties that are extremely sensitive to compaction of the soil surface; they do not grow on pure loam; annual loosening and mulching are required.

Thuja occidentalis - a place in the garden

Western thuja varieties are quite diverse not only in appearance, but also according to needs. Among them there are varieties that are tolerant to the amount of sun, but most prefer to grow in full sun if possible.

IN shady places the crown is formed loosely, sometimes one-sided (if there is serious shading on one side).

In places where there is no sun, it is better to avoid growing thujas - they will not only be very retarded in growth, but also the risk of various fungal infections increases.

If you have a close location of groundwater (1-1.5 m), it is permissible to plant conifers only on an artificial hill - an artificial hill at least half a meter high.

Planting thuja occidentalis

Planting is done in prepared holes, in an area cleared of perennial weeds - select all the rhizomes of nettle, sow thistle and other weeds for digging.

The root system of the western thuja depends on the variety - miniature ones have much less than full-sized or semi-dwarf ones. For example, in a thuja, 3-5 m tall, the roots extend to a depth of about a meter, in a two-meter tall one - 50-60 cm.

To plant a thuja variety that will grow more than 3 m in 10-15 years, you need to prepare a hole measuring one meter by one meter wide and deep if the soil on your site is not suitable in structure. The planting pit provides a supply of food for the first few years.

Setting the stage

Thuja prefers soils that are medium loam, moderately nutritious, not too moisture-intensive and not dry, slightly acidic.

If the soil is heavy clay, light sandy, clean peat, it requires mandatory improvement. Therefore, you need to mix the earth dug out of the hole with other components:

  • if the soil is clayey, replace half of the excavated soil with equal parts of peat and sand
  • if the soil is sandy, replace half of the excavated soil with equal parts of peat and loam (turf soil)
  • if the soil is peaty, replace half of the excavated soil with equal parts of loam (turf soil) and sand

We fill the bottom of the hole with a 10-15 cm layer of crushed stone drainage, then fill it with mixed soil. To plant an acquired plant in a prepared and filled hole, we make a hole 30-40 cm wider and 10-15 cm deeper than the root system of the plant (i.e. we make a hole in a filled hole).

Acidity and liming

You need to know that nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, as well as most minor elements (iron, magnesium, sulfur and copper) are most easily absorbed in soils with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.

For thujas, the optimal acidity is from 6.8 to 7.2, although they tolerate more acidic and alkaline conditions, which is what suppliers of planting material use, stating that thujas grow on any type of soil. This is not so; sooner or later, stunting in growth, browning of needles, and sometimes drying out of branches or the entire plant become noticeable.

If the acidity of the soil in your area is below pH 6.5, they should be neutralized to the desired pH with lime or dolomite flour. Read about how to do this - soil deoxidation.

How to plant

Water the plant before removing it from the shipping pot. Place the thuja removed from the container in the center of the hole, spreading the roots evenly. Then lift the tree so that the root collar is slightly higher (2-3 cm) than the ground level.

Fill in the prepared soil and gently compact the soil, pressing down with your hands, just do not squeeze it close to the trunk. The tree will settle a little along with the ground, and the root collar will be level with the horizon. You cannot bury it - this will lead to rotting.

Now around the tree you need to make a “saucer” for watering - a side made of soil in tree trunk circle, 5-6 cm high, so that when watering the water does not spread far beyond the root system. If the conifer is planted on a slope, the “saucer” needs to be made higher.

It is better to immediately mulch the soil around the thuja with pine bark, wood chips, and straw will do for the first time (not the best option - it lets in weeds and quickly decomposes).

Mulching prevents water from spreading, protects roots from overheating in hot weather, and retains moisture in the soil for several days longer. Considering that thujas do not tolerate drying out, mulching is a necessary measure. But the root collar (10-12 cm in diameter) has a minimum layer - cover the ground no more than 1 cm, or not cover it at all, so that the trunk does not rot or rot if the weather is too wet.

At what distance should thuja be planted?

The planting recommendations that you may be given when purchasing planting material are very contradictory. First of all, you need to decide whether you are planting permanent place or allow the possibility of a transplant.

In general, thujas tolerate transplantation well, especially if the root system is preserved as much as possible, and the time is suitable for such an operation. But sometimes after a few years it will be technically impossible to transplant the trees to a new location. Therefore, plan your garden design in advance.

The distance between plants should take into account the final size of the variety and the possibility of crown correction by pruning. For example, in some varieties of columnar thujas the diameter at the base of the trunk can be almost 2 m, in others - narrow columnar thujas are no more than a meter. Thujas grow slowly, the average increase in height per year is 10-30 cm, in diameter about 5-10 cm. But you need to imagine the garden in perspective, what it will look like in 10-15 years, because it will be almost impossible to replant a full-grown tree.

If you are planning a hedge, say, from the Brabant variety, which has a crown diameter of an adult plant of about 1.5 m, with a planting frequency in a row: every 50-70 cm (there is such a recommendation), you will have to thin them out after a few years, removing them after one. Such large thujas should be planted at a distance of 80-100 cm.

In addition, you need to consider whether you want to preserve the natural shape of the planted variety - so that the cone (pyramid) is clearly visible or not - when planting densely hedge forms a dense green wall, it is impossible to distinguish individual specimens with the eye.

Another factor is opportunity curly trimming, there should be enough space around the tree or shrub to freely care for it - tying, pruning, treating against diseases and pests.

Caring for thuja occidentalis

Beauty requires effort - it starts with regular watering, especially the first month after planting - overdrying is unacceptable.

Thuja grows well only in fertile and moist soil. Plants growing in a flowerpot or container cannot tolerate drying out at all. It is more difficult to track the loss of moisture in conifers than in deciduous ones - the leaves of conifers hang down like rags, while those of conifers turn yellow and dry out. Therefore, watering open ground should be regular, when there is no rain, approximately once a week.

It is believed that thujas take watering very well by sprinkling, the water washes away dust from the crown and increases air humidity, but thujas love moist air and naturally grow along the banks and slopes of rivers and reservoirs.

However, during sprinkling, you need to make sure that water not only drips onto the crown, but also wets the root layer under the trees. If there are signs of a fungal infection on the thuja, try to avoid sprinkling during treatment and carry out regular watering from a watering can.

There are varieties that are completely intolerant of both overdrying and low humidity air, for example, Globoza nana (miniature spherical), these are best planted near a garden pond, fountain, stream.

Soil improvement and fertilizing

After planting, thuya has enough nutrients for several years; as a rule, feeding is not needed for the first two years.

In the future, you can improve the soil structure and fertile soil layer by adding a 7-10 cm layer of compost under the trees, rake off the top layer of soil and replace it with humus, and mulch the top with chopped pine bark.

Some varieties, for example, Columna, are sensitive to compaction of the soil surface, the roots do not have enough oxygen, the plants wither, these necessarily require annual loosening and renewal of mulch.

If there is no cow or horse humus, you can replace it with leaf humus.

As fertilizing, it is advisable to use mainly phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, preferably complex with a set of other minerals, designed specifically for coniferous plants. Usually two feedings per season at the beginning and end of summer are sufficient.

Do not forget that the application of mineral fertilizers reduces the pH, and excessive dosages can burn the roots, which is manifested in the browning of the needles, usually not immediately, but within a month.

Crown inspection

Thuja occidentalis is an evergreen plant, but the renewal of leaves and twigs occurs regularly, as a rule, “leaf fall” occurs in the fall, and since the crown of many varieties is very dense, the process can occur unnoticed by us.

Therefore, do not forget to look inside the crown, move apart the branches and select yellow needles; sometimes they accumulate between the branches near the trunk, collecting in “tangles”.

Trimming

Typically, thujas respond well to pruning, do not get sick, and only become thicker after cutting.

If a variety has a columnar shape, this does not mean that the plant will grow branches with a strict pyramidal geometry; some varieties, such as Smaragd, have a clear outline of the shape, others, such as Brabant, grow shaggy and need constant pruning to form a well-groomed appearance.

In young plants just purchased from a nursery, it is often necessary to reduce the number of leading branches, otherwise the plant grows into two or three trunks (double-vertical) and all decorativeness is lost. If possible, select in advance specimens of columnar thujas with one leader trunk. If there are several of them, leave one, carefully trim the second. The crown will grow over the season.

Trimming the tips of the shoots should be done in the spring, with the opening of the buds and until mid-summer, some varieties, especially fast-growing, spherical or ovoid, need to be pruned twice a season, others, slow-growing ones less often - once in the spring, then the crown grows a little over the summer, and the plants look more natural. You can shorten branches by 1/3 of the length maximum, or less if necessary.

Thuja shelter for the winter

Almost all varieties of western thuja need protection from snow and ice. Their branches grow vertically upward, the snow that has accumulated and frozen into the ice cap presses on them and breaks them out. Therefore, you need to tie the trunks so that the snow flies off without stopping.

Tying needs to be done soft material– nylon tights are simply ideal for this role – they do not rot and stretch. You can’t tie the crown too tightly, like Christmas trees before being piled into the truck, otherwise the needles inside will rot.

Small specimens, no more than 1.5 m tall, are best protected not with a harness, but with a hut. From wooden slats make a tripod and wrap it in burlap or white lutrasil.

It is important to consider the susceptibility of some varieties to sunburn. There are varieties that are very resistant - the same Smaragd, occasionally the tops of the heads can burn, and there are varieties that require shelter for the most dangerous period - from the end of February to April in the form of burlap or a protective screen.

Sometimes thujas do not burn in the sun for only one reason - they are heavily covered with snow, this applies mainly to young plants and low-growing spherical ones, but if the winter turns out to be little snow, they are at risk of sunburn, so focus on the weather and precipitation.

Reproduction of thuja occidentalis

Thuja can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively: by cuttings and layering.

Not all varieties are propagated by seeds, and this is rarely practiced due to the possible loss of varietal qualities; in addition, thuja often produces non-viable seeds that do not sprout. Some varietals, like Danica, are propagated exclusively by cuttings. Others, for example, Vareana, Malonyana, when propagated, give high preservation of varietal characteristics (80-85%).

Thuja seeds ripen by the end of October, by November, they cannot be stored, they quickly lose their germination capacity - immediately send them for stratification for 2-3 months in a cold place (+2-4C) and sow them.

Propagation of cuttings is quite easy if you cut branches for rooting in winter. Optimal time- November, not early autumn, but late, if autumn is long, you can cut it in December, before frost.

Cuttings take root in the warmth of 22-24C, in a room greenhouse, i.e. at high humidity soil.

Alternatively, you can use a zip bag - i.e. transparent plastic bag with a zipper clip - it is convenient to hang it on the window - it can be attached to the glass or frame with tape or on a clothespin.

Technique for rooting thuja cuttings

Prepare the soil: 1 part leaf soil (leaf humus) and 1 part coarse river sand, or vermiculite and sand in equal parts. For one cutting you need about half a glass - a glass of substrate. Mix the ingredients and be sure to sterilize in the microwave or oven. Place it in a bag and pour some boiled water over it. The soil for germination should not be too damp, just slightly moist.

We cut the stalk about 15 cm long, preferably with a heel, but do not tear it off (the bark is lifted), but cut it with a sharp knife. You need to remove the lower branches from the cutting and place it in a bag in the soil.

Close the bag tightly and hang it in a bright place - for winter - this is a south window, if the windows are too dark - next to the lamp. It is advisable that the total daylight hours be 12-14 hours.

Since the bag is closed, there is no need to water or spray anything. The roots form within a month. Do not remove the cutting from the bag, observe: as long as the needles are green, everything is fine, wait until the root (it is dark) is visible through the bag, you can take it out and plant it in a pot in a substrate consisting of 2-3 parts of leaf humus, 1 part of coarse river sand.

The pot with the planted thuja should be placed in a transparent bag, sprayed with boiled water and tied. After 2-3 days, open the bag for more and more time - gradually accustom it to lower air humidity.

Family: cypress (Cupressaceae).

Homeland: North America, East Asia.

Form: coniferous trees and shrubs.

Description

Thujas are symmetrical conical evergreen trees with a dense crown. Thuja needles are dense, cross-lying, scale-like (there are also thujas with soft needles). All types of thuja have a characteristic aromatic smell. Thuja flowers and cones are invisible (or not formed at all). All types of thuja tolerate haircuts well, so they are used in topiary art.

(T. occidentalis). A conical tree of medium size, up to 15-20 m tall and 3-5 m wide. The branches of the western thuja are raised up. Western thuja grows slowly. The flowers are greenish-yellow, inconspicuous. Thuja cones are reddish-brown. The needles of the western thuja are dark green, lighter below; Because of the cold weather, the thuja turns brownish in winter and turns green in spring. Thuja occidentalis is sensitive to soil compaction; grows on any fertile substrate. The root system of the thuja occidentalis is superficial, branched, and lifts road surfaces. Thuja occidentalis prefers sun or partial shade, and thins out in dense shade. In addition, thuja occidentalis prefers moist, cool areas and is sensitive to high temperatures and drought. Thuja occidentalis is winter-hardy and wind-resistant.

, or gigantic (T. plicata, gigantea, lobbii). Conical tree up to 15 m tall and 3-5 m wide, fast-growing (up to 30 cm per year). The needles of thuja folded or giant are shiny, dark green, with white spots below, very fragrant. The root system is dense, superficial, branched. Thuja foldata, like the thuja occidentalis, is winter-hardy, wind-resistant, does not tolerate high temperatures, and prefers humid areas.

Thuja Korean (T. koraiensis). Quite a rare plant. Korean thuja is a wide shrub up to 9 m high. The bark is thin, red-brown, scaly. The needles of Korean thuja are green above and white below. A very decorative type of thuja. In addition, Korean thuja is winter-hardy.

Thuja japonica , or Thuja Standish (T. standishii, jaronica). Tall tree up to 18 m high. The bark of the thuja japonica or Standish is reddish-brown, thin, and comes off in paper-like strips. The leaves of Thuja japonica, or Standish, are green and have white spots underneath. The smell of the needles of this type of thuja is pungent, similar to the smell of spruce resin.

Growing conditions

Thujas are quite shade-tolerant, but in dense shade they thin out. Thuja grows well in any fertile, well-drained soil. When grown on poor soils, the branches of the plants become faded, the needles thin out, and the thujas begin to bear fruit abundantly, which is not always very decorative. Thujas are sensitive to high temperatures and droughts. There is a high probability and sunburn thuja in early spring. Thujas are planted at a distance of at least 0.5 m. Some thujas are planted at a distance of up to 3 or even 5 meters.

Application

Thujas tolerate pruning well, so their use in landscaping is very widespread. Thujas are often planted along fences, or at the entrance to the house. made from thuja is very decorative. Thujas are also used to create topiary forms. Thuja pyramidalis and thuja columnar will be a good vertical accent in. Thuja dwarf can be used in rocky gardens. Thuja can be used in group and solitary plantings. Thuja will always take its rightful place in the garden. However, do not overload your summer cottage with thujas: after all, these are plants alien to the flora of central Russia, they stand out strongly against the background of other plants, and a large number of them will make the area gloomy.

Care

Thuja trimming in a hedge is moderate; it should not weaken the plant (no more than 1/3 of the shoot). Thuja planting is carried out in the second or third year after planting; the tips of the apical shoots of the plant are cut off, causing tillering. In the third year, the apical shoots of the thuja are trimmed and the sides begin to form, cutting off branches that protrude beyond the specified dimensions. Regular shaping of the thuja (thuja shaping) begins when the plant reaches the desired height. Thuja can be trimmed several times a year. It is recommended to water thuja in the first month after planting, as well as during dry periods (2 times a week, at least 15 liters per plant). 2 years after planting thuja, you can apply mineral fertilizers (in spring). Thujas are loosened shallowly (8-10 cm). Mulching (with peat or wood chips) with a layer of about 7 cm is also useful for thuja. Young thuja needs shelter in the first winter after planting. An adult thuja does not need shelter in winter. Thuja transplantation is carried out in the spring.

Reproduction

Thuja propagation is carried out seeds and vegetatively. Thuja seeds ripen in autumn in the year of flowering. Spring planting Thuja is produced by stratified seeds. Propagation of thuja by seeds provides good material, but does not always guarantee compliance with the variety. Only some varieties of thuja repeat the maternal characteristics, the rest form hybrids and forms similar to natural ones. Therefore, garden forms of thuja are propagated vegetatively.

Vegetative propagation thuja is possible in three ways: division, horizontal and. Division is used when propagating multi-stemmed compact varieties. First, the thuja (preferably a young specimen) is hilled up to form additional roots, then after the roots have formed, the plants are dug up and divided into independent specimens. If you hill up the thuja in the spring, then additional roots will appear by autumn, if in the summer, then in late spring - early summer the next year.

Reproduction by horizontal layering does not guarantee the preservation of the crown shape. Often, rooted branches produce lopsided plants and only with constant care and formation do they subsequently acquire a normal shape. The essence of the method is this: a branch of the mother plant is bent to the ground and lightly sprinkled with earth. Rooting occurs throughout the year.

Cuttings Suitable for all types of thuja, although their rooting speed is different. The optimal time for cuttings of thuja is spring before (or at the beginning) the awakening of the buds. When cuttings are taken in summer (after young growths have hardened), the cuttings may not have time to form roots and freeze in winter.

Arborvitae seedlings and arborvitae seeds can be purchased at garden centers or ordered online.

Diseases and pests

Possible pests of thuja are bark beetles, spider mites, thuja and cypress aphids, and scale insects. If the thuja turns yellow, this may be the result of improper planting (severe deepening or exposure of the root collar), sunburn, or damage to the thuja by fungal diseases. Keep in mind that thujas change the color of their needles with the onset of cold weather, and turn green again in the spring, so if the thuja turns yellow, this is not necessarily a sign of thuja disease.

Popular varieties

The most popular varieties of thuja occidentalis

    ‘Aureospicata’, ‘Aurescens’. Small to medium sized trees, sometimes bushy; The crown is wide-conical. The needles of these thuja varieties are golden yellow. ‘Aurea Nana’ – dwarf form (up to 0.6 m tall). The needles are yellow-green, later light green, and brownish-yellow in winter.

    'Bodmeri'. Shrub up to 2.5 m tall with thick, fancy branches. The needles are thick, almost pressed, dark green. Thuja ‘Bodmeri’ looks especially good in group plantings.

    'Brabant'. One of the most popular varieties of western thuja; a conical, dense tree of medium size, 15-20 m high, up to 4 m wide. Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ does not change color in winter and remains green throughout the year. The bark is reddish or grayish-brown, flaking. Thuja ‘Brabant’ grows quickly (up to 30 cm per year).

    'Columna'. Slender columnar large shrub or small tree. Thuja occidentalis 'Columna' grows slowly. The height of the variety is up to 10 m, width is 1-1.5 m. Thuja ‘Columna’ retains its columnar shape. The needles are dark green and hardly change color in winter.

    ‘Cristata’(Comb). A slender, graceful tree up to 5 m tall with a rounded crown and short branches. The needles are gray-green.

    'Danica'. Round, dwarf shrub (0.4-0.6 m tall and up to 1 m wide). Thuja ‘Danika’ is a slow-growing variety of western thuja. The needles are thick, soft, green, slightly bronze in winter. The bark is reddish or grayish brown.

    ‘Ellegantissima’. An elegant tree up to 5 m tall with a wide-conical, dense crown. The needles are bright and shiny. The ends of the shoots are whitish. Suitable for group and solitary plantings on the lawn.

    'Europa Gold'. Compact, conical shrub, grows slowly. Height – 2-4 m, width – 1-1.5 m. Young shoots are golden yellow. The needles are orange when blooming, winter time retains color.

    ‘Fastigiata’(Equally high). Tree up to 15 m tall with a columnar crown. In appearance it resembles cypress. The branches are numerous, the needles are light or dark green. Fast growing variety. Planted in group or solitary plantings near houses.


    ‘Filiformis’(Thread-like). Small shrub up to 1.5 m tall. The crown is dense and rounded. The shoots are long and hanging. The needles are green, brown in winter. This variety of thuja is planted in group plantings on the lawn, as well as in containers.

    'Globosa'. (Thuja globose). Dwarf shrub up to 1.2 m tall and 1 m wide with a rounded crown. The needles are shiny, green, brown in winter. Thuja ‘Globosa’ is used in group and solitary plantings in rock gardens, in containers, and for landscaping roofs. Thuja spherical low ‘Globosa Nana’ grows up to 30 cm. In winter, the needles turn gray. More than other varieties, it needs watering and shading. Thuja spherical low is suitable for rocky gardens and for the foreground of mixed flower beds.

    'Golden Globe'. A round-shaped shrub with yellow needles.

    'Holmstrup'. Shrub up to 4 m high and 1.5 m wide. Young trees have a columnar shape, old trees have a narrow conical, dense shape. The needles are green and do not change color. Slow growing variety.

    'Holmstrup'. Shrub up to 4 m high and up to 1 m wide with a conical crown shape. The bark is reddish or grayish-brown. This variety of thuja is undemanding to soil conditions, tolerates both dry soil and waterlogging, but fresh, fertile substrates will be best for it. ‘Holmstrup Yellow’ – variety with yellow needles.

    'Little Gem'. Dwarf shrub up to 2 m wide with a flat-round crown. The branches are erect. The needles are dark green and brown in winter. The variety is suitable for rocky gardens and hedges.

    'Little Champion'. Dwarf form (up to 0.5 m), grows quickly. The branches are straight and loose. The needles are green, brownish in winter.

    'Smaragd'. One of the most popular and widespread varieties of thuja. Thuja ‘Smaragd’ reaches 2 m in height; squat shape. Young thuja ‘Smaragd’ trees have a slender, conical shape and grow slowly. Old trees are wide-conical. Thuja ‘Smaragd’ grows quickly. Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ reaches 5, sometimes 7 m in height and 1-2 m in width. The needles are green and retain their color in winter. Propagation of thuja by cuttings.

    'Sunkist'. Large, dense, conical shrub. Thuja 'Sunkist' grows slowly. Height – 5-7 m, width – 2-3 (5) m. The needles of young trees are golden yellow, old ones are lemon yellow, and bronze in winter.

    'Tiny Tim'. Round, dwarf shrub up to 1 m high and 1.5 m wide. The needles are green, bronze in winter. The shape is not as dense as that of the thuja variety ‘Danica’ and is somewhat larger.

    ‘Variegata’. A spectacular variety of western thuja with variegated needles (with yellow-white spots on a green background); the crown is dense, densely leafy.

    ‘Woodwardii’. Dwarf thuja with spherical crown. The height of the variety is up to 2.5 m, width is up to 5 m. The needles are dark green and do not change color. This variety of western thuja is suitable for rock gardens and lawn plantings.

Varieties of thuja folded or giant

Tall green thuja trees with flat branches located in different planes form continuous screens, limiting and shaping the space, forming closed landscape areas. The play of shades of color in folds and shading created by multidirectional branches makes the textured surface expressive, creating a stunning impression. Unpretentious plants They tolerate pruning well and are great for creating dense hedges and all kinds of green shapes, designing rocky hills and driveways.

Types of thuja

Several types of thuja are grown in culture, on the basis of which breeders have developed many different varieties, which include columnar, pyramidal, spherical and cushion-shaped forms different colors and shades. The greatest selection diversity is distinguished by the western, eastern and folded thujas.

After you choose a variety of thuja suitable for your garden, use our article “”, which will help you: choose the right seedling, plant and grow a beautiful tree or shrub from it.

Western thuja (Thuja occidentalis)

Large trees up to 20 m high natural conditions grow in the forests of North America. The crown is formed in the form of a pyramid narrowed at the top and becomes rounded with age. The reddish-brown bark cracks and peels off, hanging in long strips. The needles are green, flat, light on the underside. Small cones, 1–1.5 cm long, ripen in the fall and quickly fall off.

Danica

A delightful dwarf variety of Danish selection was obtained in 1948. An adult plant reaches a height of half a meter and develops slowly. The dense crown forms a perfectly rounded ball of deep green color. The wavy surface formed by fan-shaped branches placed in a vertical plane gives this thuja a special charm. The needles are bright in summer and tend to turn brown in winter. The tree is compact and great for planting in mixed borders and for landscaping rock gardens.

Fastigiata

The well-known variety of German selection is a slender, dense tree more than 15 m in height. Development is rapid, annual growth reaches 20–30 cm. The columnar crown, widened at the bottom and narrowed at the top, is formed by strong skeletal branches directed vertically.

The side branches are flat, horizontally placed, curled at the ends and covered with dark green needles. It propagates well by seeds, but the resulting seedlings may differ greatly from the mother plant.

Thuja orientalis

The name Thuja orientalis is assigned to a species that actually does not belong to the genus Thuja, although it is very similar in appearance. It would be more correct to call this decorative conifer Platycladus orientalis or Biota orientalis. The species originates from Korea and China, where it grows singly or in small groups on rocky, poor soils in a temperate climate.

It develops slowly, mainly in the form of a tree, reaching 5–10 m in height, growing even higher in favorable conditions. In cold regions it takes the form of a shrub. The crown is pyramidal or cone-shaped with a wide base. The bark is reddish-brown, peeling off in strips.

The flat, fan-shaped branches are directed vertically and covered with bright green scaly needles. Young plants, likewise, may be distinguished by needle-like, sharp needles. In winter, the needles radically change color - they turn brown or yellow.

Aurea Nana

The dwarf variety is popular in regions with temperate or warm climates; in cold winters it requires shelter. Despite some whimsicality, the plant is loved for the bright light green “grassy” color of its needles, its cone-shaped crown, which becomes ovoid over the years, and its slow development. By the age of ten it reaches 0.8–1 m in height; an adult tree grows up to one and a half meters and is darker in color.

In winter, the color changes, the needles acquire a golden-bronze hue. Manifest rich colors the plant is capable only in sunny areas and moist soils, in this case Aurea Nana will serve as a real decoration for a flower garden, rock garden or mixborder.

Justynka

A spectacular dwarf, columnar-shaped variety of Polish selection. By the age of ten, the tree grows to 1–1.2 m. Formative branches are directed upward, the branches are fan-shaped, located in a vertical plane, the crown is dense, with dark green flattened needles. It is noted as a cold-resistant plant; it winters well in temperate latitudes. Looks great in rockeries and small mixborders.

Morgan

The unusual thuja was obtained by Australian breeders and is distinguished by a dense pyramidal crown of fan-shaped branches of golden yellow color. In winter, the tree becomes even more attractive, acquiring a bright reddish-bronze color, sometimes with an orange tint. It develops slowly, growing 5–7 cm per year, reaching a height of 70 cm by the age of ten.

Thuja plicata

Huge trees of this species in the natural conditions of the Pacific coast of North America grow up to 60 m, due to which the species received another name - giant thuja (T.gigantea). At the latitude of St. Petersburg, the tree reaches 12–15 m, but is prone to freezing in severe winters. The crown is low, thick, spreading, the branches are directed horizontally or obliquely upward, the side branches are drooping. The needles are scaly, long, emerald green, with a whitish stripe on the underside.

About 50 varieties have been bred; due to their large size, the species is often planted in parks; for garden plots, it is recommended to choose dwarf and slow-growing varieties.

Whipcord

A wonderful dwarf variety of American selection grows as a tree with a spherical crown, reaching 1.5 m. The shoots are large, sloping, long sharp needles flow down, giving the thuja an exotic look. In the cold season, the color becomes bronze.

It grows slowly, no more than 7–10 cm per year, requires an open area and sufficient moisture, and is frost-resistant. Vipcord looks exceptional in single plantings against a background of stones, and is effective in standard form.

Zebrina

A slow-growing variegated variety with a wide-conical crown, loose in young plants and dense in adults. On poor soils and in northern regions it grows 7–10 cm per year, reaching 2.5 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter by the age of ten. In favorable conditions, on nutritious soils, it produces annual growth of up to 15–20 cm.

The skeletal branches are spreading, the side branches are drooping, covered with shiny scale-like needles of a juicy green tone, young shoots with creamy white or golden transverse wide stripes. A lush, elegant tree is most suitable for solitaire planting.

Originally grows in central Japan, on the islands of Honshu and Shikoku. In Japanese culture, the species is considered one of the five sacred trees of Kiso, and in ancient times this thuja was prohibited from being cut down. A large, beautiful tree with vertically directed spreading branches forming a pyramidal crown with a wide base, reaches a height of 20 m. In cultivation it grows up to 6–9 m, but under natural conditions old trees can grow huge - up to 35 meters or more.

The bark is fibrous, reddish-brown in color. The needles have a characteristic strong odor, flat, matte, bright green, the reverse side is bluish-silver. Japanese thuja is frost-resistant, but suffers from a lack of moisture; it develops better on nutritious, well-drained loams. Open areas or sparse partial shade are preferred.

Korean thuja (Thuja koraiensis)

A spreading shrub or conical tree with a loose crown, growing up to 7–8 m in height. It grows wild in forests, on the mountain slopes and valleys of China and Korea, where it is considered a fairly winter-hardy plant. The bark is reddish-brown, rough, the shoots are flat, with narrow blunt needles, silvery on the underside. The look is graceful and light thanks to light tone lacy branches with edges curved upward.

Species plants are available for purchase in nurseries; a few varietal varieties are rare.

Glauca Prostrata

A promising slow-growing variety with a mature plant height of up to 60 cm. The plant is showy, with graceful openwork branches similar to fern leaves, bluish-green in color with a silver lining. The light, lush crown with spreading shoots looks airy.

It grows poorly in deep shade, losing its decorative effect. An exceptional choice for mixed foreground plantings, looks great as a tapeworm against a background of dark plants.

Groups of thuja varieties according to growth rate, crown shape and color

The entire variety of thuja varieties can be divided into categories according to growth intensity and crown shape. Another important feature is the color of the needles. The most common among thujas are variations of various shades of green, golden-yellow plants are spectacular, blue-hued varieties are less common, most often these are a few representatives of the oriental thuja.

Pyramidal (cone-shaped)

Platycladus Pyramidalis Aurea

Beautiful variety thuja orientalis with a narrowed cone-shaped crown of juicy green color. It grows up to 4–6 m in height, the crown is formed by vertically directed branches, the apex is pointed. The overgrowing branches are small, densely covered with scaly needles of a yellowish-green color, which do not fade in winter.

The variety is characterized by moderate growth - up to 10 cm per year. An excellent choice for adding color to mixed conifer plantings or forming a colorful, slender hedge.

Kornik

A strong, lush tree with a pyramidal crown, growing densely from the ground itself, is a famous representative arborvitae. The crown is formed by elastic branches located horizontally and drooping. The needles are glossy, dark green, covered with silver stripes on the reverse side, becoming golden or bronze in winter.

The growth rate is average, by the age of ten the tree reaches 2.5–3 m in height and up to 1.5 m in diameter. To form a continuous hedge or screen, seedlings are placed every 0.8–1 m. Cornik looks great as a tapeworm.

Globular

Golden Globe

The round golden thuja was obtained by Dutch breeders in 1963 and is a mutation of the Woodwardii variety. The crown is assembled from flat small branches directed horizontally. It grows moderately, 7–8 cm per year, the diameter of an adult spherical shrub is 1–1.2 m. The needles are very light, shining golden-yellow in color, and after frosts they become reddish-copper.

For full coloring you need an open space. The variety works well in single plantings in flower beds and mixborders, and is excellent in original design tracks.

Hoseri

A slow-growing shrub is a variety western thuja Polish selection, grows 4–8 cm per year. The crown is rounded, even, formed by skeletal branches directed obliquely upward with small overgrowing branches and bristling young shoots, which is why the surface looks soft and velvety. The needles are small, smooth, emerald green, clear in color, turning bronze in winter.

The regular spherical crown reaches half a meter in diameter by ten years. In adulthood, the plant becomes flattened, acquiring a cushion shape, and can reach a diameter of more than a meter.

Columnar

Columna

One of the best columnar varieties, obtained in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. A tall, slender tree is characterized by an average growth rate; by the age of ten it reaches 3 m in height and 1.2–1.5 m in diameter; later it can grow up to 10 m, which is a unique characteristic of columnar-shaped thujas, which usually do not reach such sizes .

The narrow crown with a blunt rounded top is formed by horizontally directed branches, fan-shaped at the ends. Small glossy needles are smooth, dark green in color. The variety is frost-resistant, unpretentious, suitable for forming green screens that do not require cutting.

Brabant

Fast growing western thuja with a columnar or narrow cone-shaped crown. It grows actively, in favorable conditions it gives annual increments of up to 30 cm, reaching a height of 3.5–5 m. The growing branches are flat, multi-directional in the shape of a fan. The scaly needles are of a thick green tone, the color is stable and does not change with the arrival of cold weather. The crown surface is wavy and acquires a loose structure over the years. Used for group plantings and evergreen alleys.

Dwarf

Waterfield

Western thuja The dwarf type is a rounded shrub with a dense crown; with age it acquires a slightly elongated oval shape. By the age of ten it reaches a height of about 30–50 cm, growing 4–5 cm per year.

Shortened lateral branches are fan-shaped, delicate growths, light cream when emerging, make the surface textured, soft, similar to lichen. In winter, the needles become brownish-brown.

Zmatlik

Nice Czech variety western thuja dwarf type with vertically directed growth. The crown is columnar-shaped, narrow, up to 1.0–1.2 m high and up to half a meter wide. Seedlings and young plants have an indefinite, curved shape, and the plant itself seems disheveled.

Over time, due to the fan-shaped twisting branches, the dense surface acquires a patterned texture due to spirals and waves overlapping each other. The needles are small, dark green. It tolerates planting in the shade, but in this case the crown becomes loose, losing its amazing decorative effect.

Cushion-shaped

Umbraculifera

Cushion-shaped western thuja obtained at the end of the 19th century by German breeders. It develops slowly, up to 7–10 cm per year, by the age of ten it grows about 1 m tall, forms a pressed wide crown with a diameter of more than 2 m, umbrella-shaped, rounded at the edge.

The branches are flexible, with densely growing side branches, curved and placed in different planes, which gives the surface a peculiar effect of water ripples. The growths are flat, covered with dark glossy needles with a bluish tint.

Golden Tuffet

Spectacular variety western thuja at a young age it is round in shape, later the crown becomes wide, cushion-shaped, reaching a height of 60 cm. The overgrowing branches are graceful, drooping, and located in different directions. On young growths, the needles have a delicate pinkish-golden tone; in bright sun they acquire an orange or bronze hue. A plant planted in the shade loses its warm tones, turns green, and the crown becomes sparse.

Golden (yellow)

Forever Goldy

Promising “ever-yellow” variety arborvitae with bright golden-green needles that do not change color throughout the year. The compact tree with a cone-shaped crown is formed by strong small branches with flat shoots, turned vertically and located parallel to each other. Growth is up to 10–15 cm per year; by the age of ten, the tree grows no more than one and a half meters in height.

Young shoots are much lighter than the deep green tones, and this play of light and shadow makes the plant especially attractive. Grows well in sun and partial shade, but open areas the golden color becomes more saturated. Used as a tapeworm on rocky hills, as well as for low bright hedges.

Golden Minaret

Beautiful light-loving variety thuja orientalis is a lush pyramidal tree with needles of a golden-bronze hue; in winter, reddish-bronze tones predominate. When planted in shade, it turns lemon green. It grows up to 4 m in height and about 1.5 m in diameter, the growth rate is moderate - about 10 cm per year.

The needles are scaly, densely covering short branches, the growths puff up and create the illusion of a soft, plush surface. Needs shelter for the winter, especially at a young age; in the spring, shoots are susceptible to burns.

Blue

Blue Cone

This oriental thuja with a dense cone-shaped crown in the shape of a pin, develops intensively, in good conditions grows about 20 cm per year and reaches a height of 2–3 m and a width of 1.2–2.0 m. Flat branches in the form of a fan are directed vertically, the needles are bluish-green, dark, sea-green.

Blue Con is undemanding to watering and works well in hot regions, surpassing the western thuja in drought resistance. In northern latitudes, during harsh winters with little snow, it can freeze out and requires reliable shelter.

Meldensis

Variety eastern thuja with an ovoid crown in young plants, which becomes pyramidal in adults. The branching is dense, the branches are fan-shaped, the shoots are multidirectional, forming a dense, even surface. The needles are bluish-green, darken in winter, acquiring a purple tint, and young growths turn brown. Plants grown from seeds are more resilient and grow faster.

Fast growing

Gelderland

A beautiful slender plant with a perfect cone-shaped crown, forming from the ground itself. It develops quickly, growing by 20–25 cm, reaching a height of 4–5 m. The delicate needles, dense green in summer and golden or bronze in winter, make the plant especially attractive.

Planted as a tapeworm, this stunning thuja has a pleated surface ( folded thuja) soft dense crown resembles a fabulous Christmas tree, magnificent at any time of the year.

Excelsa

Another wonderful representative folded thuja, at a young age columnar in shape, then cone-shaped with a wide base. Growing up to 30 cm per year, the large tree reaches 12–15 m in height and more than 3 m in diameter. The branches are directed horizontally or obliquely upward, drooping at the ends. The needles are shiny, thick green, slightly lighter on the growths.

The variety is resistant, winters well, strong and effective. Prefers fertile loams and is demanding on moisture. Looks luxurious in alleys and groups.

Video about the variety of types and varieties of thuja

In small ornamental gardens, on rocky hills, near fences and in mixed borders, luxurious thujas, with their dense, abundant needles, rich in color, will come into place. Pyramidal and spherical, emerald and golden, tall and dwarf, they provide enormous scope for creativity, allowing you to bring to life the most daring design solutions. And of course, nothing can replace the columnar thuja when creating slender alleys and green screens that visually expand and lengthen the space.

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