Arborvitae for the Home Landscape

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Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Horticulture and Crop Science

2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43210-1086

Arborvitae for the Home Landscape

HYG-1077-88

Elton M. Smith

The Eastern arborvitae, American arborvitae or white cedar, Thuja occidentalis, is native throughout the northern half of eastern North America, especially in moist soil areas. This plant has long been established in American gardens, and according to some, over-used by building contractors. Arborvitae propagate readily from cuttings, are relatively easy to produce in a short period of time and are generally inexpensive. Thus, they are a building contractor's favorite.

At maturity arborvitae are usually dense, pyramidal, 40 to 50 foot trees, but cultivars range from dwarf to rounded or globe shapes with foliage colors of yellow, bluish and various shades of green. Arborvitae are small evergreen trees and shrubs with needle-like juvenile leaves and scale-like mature foliage and branchlets flattened in one plane. Branches are erect and spreading with thin, scaly bark.

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