Degroot's Spire Arborvitae
Degroot's Spire Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire'Item #7281 USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8
A beautiful tall narrow form, perfect to plant between buildings. Rich green foliage takes on purple cast in winter. Twisted texture on pyramidal form tolerates shearing nicely for a more tailored column. Cold hardy and reliable. Ideal as matched pairs or planted in multiples for an attractive screen. Evergreen.
- OverviewLight Needs:Partial to full sunWatering Needs:Water weekly, or more often in extreme heat, until established.Average Landscape Size:Slow growing 20 ft. tall and 4 to 5 ft. wide.
- DetailBotanical Pronunciation:THOO-yuh ok-sih-den-TAY-lissPlant type:ConiferDeciduous/evergreen:EvergreenSunset climate zones:1 - 9, 15 - 17, 21 - 24, 32 - 45Growth habit:PyramidalGrowth rate:SlowAverage landscape size:Slow growing 20 ft. tall and 4 to 5 ft. wide.Foliage color:GreenBlooms:Conifer; prized for foliage.Design IdeasA valuable hardy alternative to cypress. Produces a fine columnar form used in rows, pairs or as a single specimen. Perfect for an evergreen privacy screen or rich background for water features and art. Performs well in the wet, low lying areas of your garden or natural swamps and bogs. Place in paired containers as a formal statement to an entry or drive.Companion PlantsSmoke Tree (Cotinus); Spirea (Spiraea); Rose (Rosa); Hydrangea (Hydrangea); Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- CareCare InformationFollow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to keep the root ball moist and establish a deep, extensive root system. Once established, tolerates mild drought, though occasional deep soaking during long dry spells is advised. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.Pruning time: spring.Light Needs:Partial to full sunWatering Needs:Water weekly, or more often in extreme heat, until established.
- History & LoreHistory:These conifers are members of the cypress family which includes many ornamental and timber genera. The common name is Arborvitae or Tree-of-Life due to its evergreen quality in the face of adversity as well as the medicinal properties of its sap, bark and twigs. There are five species native to North America and Eastern Asia with only three of these in cultivation. T. occidentalis is probably the most widely cultivated and is indigenous to a large range in eastern North America, most notably in wet forests and swamps. It was first cultivated in 1534 and the oldest known living specimen is thought to be over 1000 years old. This plant is attractive to deer who like to feast on the soft, winter foliage.