Thuja occidentalis 'Wans Dyke Silver'
Eastern Arborvitae, American Arborvitae, Siberian Arborvitae, Northern White Cedar, White Cedar
Type Tree, woody plant
Hardy range 3A to 7A
Height 25' to 40' / 7.60m to 12.20m
Spread 10' to 15' / 3.00m to 4.60m
Growth rate Slow
Form Pyramidal
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Yellow
Bloom Time Spring
Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, flooding and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to wet or submerged soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.
Leaf Color
Green, variegated and yellow
Fall Color
No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
Transplanting is moderately easy if plants are root-pruned and either balled and burlapped or potted. American Arborvitae likes high humidity and prefers moist to wet soils but tolerates some drought. The foliage turns brownish in winter, especially on cultivars with colored foliage and on exposed sites open to the wind. Select cultivars that remain mostly green in winter, such as 'Tecky' and Nigra', for the most northern climates. Many of the natural stands in the United States have been cut. Some remain in isolated areas along rivers throughout the East. Good survival in ice storms, especially on trees with a single trunk.
Foliage turns brown with the onset of cold winter temperatures. Some of the cultivars retain their green foliage well into winter. Most can be pruned into various shapes and maintained that way for a long time (see photograph). However, it is best to select from one of the dwarf cultivars for most residential and many commercial landscapes where space is limited. This will negate the need to constantly pruned the plant to keep it small.
Maintain adequate mulch area
Be sure to clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line (the edge of the branches), especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.
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