Latin Name - Platycladus orientalis (Thuja orientalis)
Height - 15-25 feet
Spread - 10-15 feet
Growth Rate - Slow
USDA Zone - 6 to 11
Drought Tolerance - Moderate
A popular evergreen shrub or tree, oriental arborvitae is most often seen as a hedge and foundation plant. Green, yellow-green or yellow leaves grow on the tips of branches only (Dense evergreen foliage shades inner leaves which are dropped by the plant as they become non-photosynthetic). Trees produce small, fleshy, blue-green berries (cones) with little curved horns. The foliage of oriental arborvitae is arranged in vertical sprays in contrast to American arborvitae where foliage grows in all different directions. In winter, leaves turn bronze. Heavy snow often pulls down branches necessitating a winter tree wrap or spring pruning to reform the plant's shape.