Types of Arborvitae Trees | Varieties By Size & Shape

Gardeners usually mean one of two North American species when they talk about arborvitae: American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), also called eastern white-cedar, and giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata), known as western red cedar. Both belong to the cypress family and share the flat, scale-like foliage that makes them a staple for hedges, privacy screens, windbreaks, and sound barriers. The confusion starts because each species carries dozens of cultivars with wildly different mature sizes.

Tall Privacy & Screening Cultivars

For a privacy hedge, the tall, narrow, conical cultivars of T. occidentalis and T. plicata do the heavy lifting. Green Giant, a hybrid of T. plicata and Thuja standishii, is the fastest grower, reaching roughly 50 feet tall by 15 feet wide in USDA zone 5. It is the go-to choice when you want a screen in a few years rather than a decade.

• American Pillar — a narrow, fast-growing T. occidentalis that stays tight and columnar.
• Techny — loose, tall, and dark green; a dependable pick for the Northern Plains.
• Emerald Green (‘Smaragd’) — a columnar cultivar that holds rich color and stays compact.
• Holmstrup — narrow and pyramidal, topping out around 6–8 feet tall by 2–3 feet wide in zone 3.

Giant arborvitae can exceed 70 feet and performs best in the cooler, moist coastal climates of zones 5–7, which makes it the standard in the Pacific Northwest. American arborvitae handles colder winters more reliably.

Dwarf & Globe Arborvitae For Small Spaces

Not every arborvitae grows into a towering screen. Dwarf globes stay between 1 and 3½ feet tall and fit foundation plantings, low borders, and rock gardens. Hetz Midget reaches 2 to 3½ feet with a globe-to-oval shape and solid hardiness, while Danica, Globosa, Golden Globe, Little Giant, Woodwardii, and Little Gem behave similarly. If you want a compact plant that never demands heavy pruning, choose one of these over a full-size cultivar — a common mistake is planting a 50-foot screen tree in a spot meant for something 5 feet tall.

For a shorter hedge that still reads as “arborvitae,” a dwarf columnar like Holmstrup or a mid-size pyramidal such as Brandon gives you structure without the space commitment. Before buying, compare your site’s width against the cultivar’s mature spread, not its size at the nursery.

Columnar, Pyramidal & Gold-Toned Forms

Columnar cultivars like Brandon, Fastigiata, DeGroot’s Spire, and Wareana deliver vertical interest with a narrow footprint. Wareana is broadly pyramidal and notably winterburn-resistant, which matters in exposed Northern Plains sites. Yellow Ribbon, Sunkist, and Rheingold bring gold or yellow foliage that brightens winter landscapes; Lutea, Golden Globe, Amber Gold, and Lemon Burst® offer similar color shifts. These special-color forms behave like their green counterparts in size and care, so pick by habit first and color second.

If you’re evaluating options for a tighter bed, our roundup of the best small arborvitae trees compares compact cultivars by mature size and cold hardiness.

Matching The Cultivar To Your Site

The biggest mistake homeowners make is treating all arborvitae as interchangeable. N.C. State’s plant database and UConn’s arborvitae fact sheet, which notes more than 300 cultivars, both emphasize selecting by size and habit rather than assuming any “cedar” fits. Also note that these plants are not true cedars — eastern white-cedar and western red cedar are common names, not botanical ones.

Hardiness also varies. American arborvitae is the cold-tolerant workhorse of residential gardens, while giant arborvitae prefers the cooler, wetter coastal zones. Match the cultivar to your USDA zone, mature size, and winter color behavior — some green forms bronze in cold weather, which is normal, not a disease.

FAQs

What is the fastest-growing arborvitae?

Green Giant is the fastest-growing arborvitae commonly sold for screening. It adds several feet per year once established and can reach roughly 50 feet tall by 15 feet wide. Its hybrid vigor comes from crossing giant arborvitae with the Asian Thuja standishii, and it thrives in USDA zone 5 and warmer.

Do arborvitae stay green in winter?

Most stay green, but some American arborvitae cultivars bronze or yellow in cold weather, a natural response rather than a sign of stress. Wareana is notable for resisting winterburn in exposed Northern Plains sites. If winter color matters, choose a cultivar rated for your zone and avoid late-summer pruning that encourages tender new growth.

How far apart should I plant arborvitae for a hedge?

Spacing depends on the cultivar’s mature width, not trunk size at planting. Columnar types like Emerald Green can go 3–4 feet apart for a tight screen, while broad growers like Green Giant need 8–10 feet to avoid crowding. Always check the mature spread before planting, since packed arborvitae lose lower foliage and become bare at the base.