Thuja 'Green Giant'
Date: December 1997
Thuja 'Green Giant'
A conifer being promoted as a substitute for Leyland cypress entered my world as Thuja occidentalis 'Giganteoides' earlier this decade. Anyone who received cuttings from me or from the JC Raulston Arboretum under that name needs to put a new label in the pot. The explanation for the error is long and confusing but, following isozyme analysis by Bob Marquard at the Holden Arboretum, the correct name has been applied to this conifer. It is Thuja 'Green Giant.'
This conifer apparently came to the US National Arboretum from Denmark in 1967, was planted and evaluated there. It is a hybrid of Thuja standishii and Thuja plicata. It is now correctly named Thuja 'Green Giant' and should be referred to this way. I have seen large plants growing at Manor View Farms in Maryland and think this is an appropriate name.
The following description is from an article written by Susan Martin and Kim Tripp that appeared in the Fall 1997 Bulletin of the American Conifer Society: "Thuja 'Green Giant' is an evergreen conifer to 60' or more in height with a tightly pyramidal to conical growth habit. The foliage is scale-like, in flattened sprays; is coarse in texture, glossy green above and paler beneath. The branches are somewhat thickened, horizontal to ascending with dense, alternate branchlets. The cones are oblong, 1.0-1.5 cm in length, with a spine at the tip of the scale. They are borne upright on the stem and persist through the winter months. The cones are green at first, then turn brown upon maturation. As the trees age, the bark becomes thick and fibrous.
"It is a versatile plant, one that can be used as a specimen, or as a background plant to other plantings. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, from sandy loams to heavy clay and thrives in a wide variety of climate conditions. 'Green Giant' has a naturally uniform habit and exceptional winter color. It also roots quite readily from cuttings taken at any time of year" I do NOT have cuttings available.
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