Arborvitae trees are a popular choice for homeowners and landscapers who want reliable evergreen foliage that delivers year round structure and privacy. These graceful conifers belong to the genus Thuja and are prized for their adaptability, fine texture, and ability to fit into both formal and natural garden designs. Understanding the different types of arborvitae trees helps you select the right plant for your climate, space, and aesthetic goals.
While they may look similar at a glance, arborvitae varieties differ significantly in growth habit, mature size, needle color, and cultural requirements. Some types form tight, columnar screens, while others spread horizontally to soften rock gardens or borders. By familiarizing yourself with the major categories and specific cultivars, you can create layered, long lasting plantings that remain healthy and attractive with minimal maintenance.
Columnar and Upright Growing Types
Columnar arborvitae are distinguished by their fastigiate growth, meaning they rise straight upward with minimal lateral spreading. These trees are ideal for narrow side yards, along property lines, or at the end of garden beds where you want height without width. Their strong vertical lines add formality and structure, while still offering the soft, feathery foliage associated with classic arborvitae.
Because they cast light shade and have efficient use of space, upright types are frequently used in urban and suburban settings. They work well as living walls, windbreaks, or repeated specimens along a driveway. Selecting the right columnar species or cultivar ensures the mature tree fits within your available space without constant pruning to manage width.
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'
One of the most iconic cultivars, Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' lives up to its name with rich, emerald colored foliage held densely along upright stems. This cultivar grows relatively slowly for an arborvitae, which means less frequent pruning and more time enjoying its refined silhouette. It handles cold winters well and retains its color through harsh seasons, making it a dependable choice for screening.
When planted at regular intervals, 'Emerald Green' forms an impenetrable green wall that muffles noise and provides safe harbor for birds. Its moderate drought tolerance once established also reduces irrigation demands compared to some thirstier evergreens. For homeowners who want a classic, low fuss arborvitae hedge, this variety is frequently at the top of recommendation lists.
Thuja occidentalis 'Columnaris'
The cultivar Thuja occidentalis 'Columnaris' offers a more vigorous columnar profile, with a tendency to grow taller and faster than slower growing selections. Its tight, column shape makes it especially suitable for lining long driveways or creating dramatic accents in minimalist landscapes. Because it is naturally upright, it often requires less corrective pruning to maintain its form.
This type performs well in a range of soil conditions, provided drainage is adequate, and it generally tolerates urban pollutants better than many broad leaved trees. Gardeners appreciate its neat appearance, which combines well with perennials, ornamental grasses, and other shrubs. Whether used as a solitary statement or repeated in a linear pattern, 'Columnaris' delivers reliable structure.
Spreading and Globe Shaped Types
Not all arborvitae grow straight up, and spreading varieties introduce a more relaxed, informal feel to the landscape. These types tend to branch lower to the ground, creating a wider silhouette that works beautifully as a groundcover, on slopes, or around patios. Their horizontal movement helps soften hard edges and tie plantings together visually.
Because they cover more lateral space, spreading arborvitae are effective at filling large areas without requiring tall mature trees that might interfere with power lines or nearby structures. Selecting the right spreader for your site can reduce the need for frequent pruning and keep maintenance efforts focused on health rather than constant size control.
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' is celebrated for its glowing golden yellow new growth, which gradually matures to a soft coppery green. This spreading cultivar adds seasonal color shifts to the evergreen palette, brightening borders and containers during spring. Its mounding habit makes it a natural fit for rock gardens or as an accent near contrasting dark foliage plants.
It is relatively compact compared to taller arborvitae, which means it fits comfortably in smaller residential yards. When planted in groups, 'Rheingold' creates a warm, glowing edge that remains attractive throughout the year. Its adaptability to pruning also allows gardeners to shape it precisely to their landscape vision.
Thuja plicata 'Virescens'
Western red cedar cultivars like Thuja plicata 'Virescens' bring a broader, more robust spread than many arborvitae typically associated with formal hedging. This cultivar features dense, scale like foliage in deep green tones, and its habit is both sturdy and gracefully arching. It performs especially well in cooler, moister climates where its native relatives thrive.
Landscapers often use 'Virescens' to establish quick screening on larger lots or to buffer views between neighboring properties. Because it can reach a substantial girth over time, it also serves as an excellent specimen tree when given enough space to express its natural, full bodied form. Its resistance to wind and heavy snow loads adds practical value in exposed sites.
Dwarf and Miniature Types
Home gardeners with limited space or those who want precise, low growing edging often turn to dwarf and miniature arborvitae. These slow growing options rarely exceed a few feet in height and width, making them suitable for containers, rock gardens, and small foundation plantings. Their compact nature reduces the need for frequent pruning while still delivering year round interest.
Even though they stay small, dwarf types are no less tough than their larger relatives, tolerating cold, heat, and a range of soil conditions when properly established. Choosing the right dwarf arborvitae for your design ensures you get proportionate scale, texture, and color without overwhelming nearby plants or structures.
Thuja occidentalis 'Little Gem'
The dwarf cultivar Thuja occidentalis 'Little Gem' forms a tight, cushion like mound of vivid green foliage that remains neat with virtually no pruning. Its slow growth habit means it is perfect for the front of borders, as a low edging plant, or in mixed containers where you want lasting structure. It combines well with flowering perennials and adds year round substance to seasonal displays.
Because 'Little Gem' keeps a compact profile, it is forgiving in terms of site selection and can tolerate slightly more shade than many full sun loving evergreens. Gardeners appreciate its resistance to common pests and diseases, which translates into a low maintenance, high impact addition to the landscape.
Thuja occidentalis 'Teddy'
Shaped like a little pillow, Thuja occidentalis 'Teddy' is one of the most whimsical dwarf arborvitae available. Its soft, rounded form and fine, scale like needles make it a standout in cottage gardens, urban planters, and children's gardens. Because it rarely grows more than a couple feet tall, it brings charm without becoming intrusive.
'Teddy' is particularly effective when planted in odd numbers or as a repeating motif along a pathway, where its uniform, toy like appearance can be fully appreciated. It also performs well in containers, allowing you to move a bit of structured greenery onto patios, balconies, or entryways. With minimal care, 'Teddy' delivers a steady presence that feels both playful and polished.
Specialty and Color Varieties
Beyond basic green and gold tones, many specialty arborvitae offer variegated or blue tinted foliage that adds dramatic contrast in mixed borders and foundation plantings. These cultivars are ideal for gardeners who want evergreen interest with a modern, designer edge. When combined thoughtfully with other plants, they can serve as focal points that draw the eye through the landscape.
Colorful types often require a bit more attention to site selection, since intense sun or poor drainage can stress the foliage and diminish their vivid hues. Matching the specific needs of these cultivars with your local climate and soil conditions helps ensure that their unique colors remain strong throughout the seasons.
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' (Detailed View)
Although 'Rheingold' was mentioned among spreading types, its role as a specialty color cultivar deserves extra emphasis. The progression from golden yellow in spring to coppery tones in summer makes it a dynamic element in any border or mass planting. When sited near darker evergreens or deep green shrubs, the contrast is especially striking.
Because 'Rheingold' responds well to shaping, you can maintain a tidy, uniform appearance or allow it to develop a more natural, rounded mound. Its moderate size and adaptability also make it suitable for mixed containers, where its warm tones pair beautifully with violas, ornamental cabbage, or trailing annuals.
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'
For those seeking a deeper, almost blackish green, Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' delivers a rich, glossy appearance that stands out from standard green varieties. Its narrow, columnar growth makes it a refined choice for tight spaces where you still want the impact of a full sized evergreen. The dense foliage also provides excellent noise reduction and privacy screening.
Because of its upright habit and moderate growth rate, 'Smaragd' fits seamlessly into both contemporary and traditional landscapes. It handles urban conditions well and rarely suffers from the common pests that can plague stressed evergreens, which makes it a reliable long term investment for many homeowners.
Exploring the many types of arborvitae trees allows you to match each plant to the specific needs of your landscape, from narrow corridors to open, sunlit borders. Whether you prioritize fast screening, year round color, low maintenance, or compact form, there is an arborvitae suited to your vision. Thoughtful selection and placement will reward you with healthy, attractive evergreens that enhance your outdoor space for years to come.