Get to know this plant.
Identification clue 1
Flat fan-like foliage
Identification clue 2
Opposite overlapping scales
Identification clue 3
Small elongated woody cones
Read the leaves
Look along the flat spray for paired scale leaves. Foliage identifies the arborvitae group better than the named cultivar.
More growing details
Read the bark
Fibrous reddish-gray bark peels in narrow strips.
Fruit & seed
Small tan elongated cones have several pairs of overlapping scales.
Winter character
Evergreen flattened sprays and cone structure remain visible.
Origin & place
A cultivar of an eastern North American species. Current NC floristic treatment questions whether northern white cedar was ever native in NC.
Compare with Green Giant arborvitae
Both have scale foliage and small cones; mature habit supports comparison, but labels establish the selection.
WNC Notes
Narrow formal screen; deer browse and drought are major risks. Avoid spacing too tightly.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
10–15
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
3–4
BLOOM SEASON
Spring
BLOOM COLOR
Inconspicuous
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Evergreen
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low