White Cedar {Thuja occidentalis} Fast Growing | Landscaping | Shapeable | Low Maintenance | 50 seeds Free U.S. Shipping! When it comes to low maintenance ornamental trees, White Cedar is one of the most popular choices for gardeners of all skill levels. Also known as Eastern Arborvitae (tree of life), Northern white cedar, or swamp cedar, this evergreen coniferous tree is very popular in eastern Canada and the north-central United States. This evergreen tree can grow up to 20 meters in height. It features a conical crown with a narrow, rounded top. The largest known specimen is 34 meters tall and it has a diameter of 175 centimeters. It usually has a single trunk that can reach a diameter of up to one meter and it has a red-brown bark that peels in vertical strips. Mature trees can sometimes have a gray bark. Its straight branches have a fan-like distribution and they are covered in scaly leaves. The Eastern arborvitae grows male blooms which produce female cones. The cones are rather small, they have an elongated shape and overlapping scales. The seed cones have a yellow-green color and they each contain about 8 seeds. There are over 300 cultivars featuring variations in shape, size, and color. Thuja is a very sturdy tree and it easily catches roots. It is very common for the branches of a fallen tree to catch roots, even in the most unlikely locations. It is known to live a very long life. The longest live specimen is over 1100 years old, but a dead specimen with over 1600 rings has also been recorded. Commercially, the northern white cedar is used for rustic fences, log cabins, and canoes. Its oil is commonly used for cleaners and disinfectants. While Thuja is a very resilient shrub. Growing White Cedar As we already mentioned, if you plan on growing this ornamental tree in your garden, you can easily do so if you live in an area with cool summers, where July temperatures don’t exceed 20 C. This ornamental tree is hardy to USDA zone 3. If you plan on growing several trees in your garden to create a natural screen or a fence, make sure to leave sufficient space between the trees. This variety should have about 4 meters between them, Thuja shrubs prefer full sunlight or partial shade. They thrive in well-drained soils, but they can also survive in swamps. The amazing adaptability and small size help these shrubs to outcompete other trees with ease. They prefer neutral to alkaline soils. Since Thuja is a very slow-growing tree, it will need some fertilization for a growth boost. It is best to use a balanced liquid fertilizer at the beginning of each growing season. This tree is very resilient to harsh weather. Nonetheless, young plants are more sensitive so it is best to protect them from high winds in the early years. Also, if you notice snow or ice build-up at the base of the tree or on the branches, it is best to remove it, to prevent damage. You can cover the tree with a mesh during heavy snowfalls, so you don’t have to tend to its needs during the wintertime. This lovely ornamental tree will not require any pruning, since it has a natural columnar shape. Nonetheless, if you grow it as a hedge, you can prune it as often as you need. The northern white cedar is resilient and pruning won’t affect its well-being in any way. Watering White Cedar A mature Thuja tree will be perfectly capable of gathering moisture from its environment, provided that you don’t live in a very dry area. Nonetheless, it might need occasional watering, especially during the hotter seasons. This tree likes its soil moist but well-drained. If you feel that your garden soil does not drain properly, add some grit to a depth of 20 cm. Young trees will need to be watered more frequently. At least in the first growing season, you should water the arborvitae daily, for about 10 minutes. As the tree matures, the watering frequency will decrease and it will depend heavily on the weather and the soil. The best thing you can do is check the soil regularly, and make sure it is always moist. Mulch and other organic material will help the soil retain moisture for longer periods. Zones: 2 to 7. Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Eastern white cedar or Northern white cedar, is a dense, conical to narrow-pyramidal (sometimes maturing to broad-pyramidal) evergreen tree that is native to northeastern North America. Many cultivated varieties are sold in nurseries and garden centres, from compact and dwarf varieties suited for foundation plantings to dense, upright cultivars for lawn specimen trees or for hedging. It is one of the most popular trees in yards and parks. It is also very suitable as a bonsai specimen. Leaves are scale-like, aromatic, yellow-green to green. Bark is a reddish-brown and can peel on mature trunks. The dense branching and evergreen foliage make it very attractive to birds for nesting. It prefers full sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Newly transplanted trees may require burlap protection in the winter to prevent winter burn of foliage, but once established, the northern white cedar is very cold hardy and resilient and can be a very long lived tree. Size: Height 20 to 40 ft; Width 10 to 15 ft. Germination Instructions Soak seeds for 24 hours and drain. Stratification: Seed requires 60 days cold moist stratification at 3 C (37 F) to 5 C (41 F). Soak seeds in water for 24 hours. Place seeds in sandwich bag(s), with a bit of damp sand or vermiculite to keep moist. Place the bag(s) with seeds in refrigerator for about 60 days. After the required time take the seeds out of the refrigerator and sow the seeds in pots 1/8 inch deep and cover lightly. Water gently so as not to wash away the seeds. Keep soil moist but not wet.