Green Giant Arborvitae -- Thuja green giant
Green Giant Arborvitae in Winter
The green giant arborvitae was developed by crossing the
Western Arborvitae (Thuja Plicata) and the Japanese Arborvitae (Thuja
Standishii) and with so many new plants was thought to be the perfect
windbreak or screen tree. Well it is not, it has a zone rating of 5-8
but in our zone 5 here, it does winter burn, some years badly, does not grow
4 ft a year as some advertising says, but
more like 2 ft. It is said to be deer resistant but that means if the
deer are not too hungry and can eat something else. If the deer are
hungry and have these to eat they will indeed eat this arborvitae.
We have been experimenting with this plant for several years
to see if I can recommend it for a windbreak tree. I would lightly
recommend this tree on the inside row of a windbreak were the soil is good
and can be spaced at least 8 ft apart. They have a shaggy appearance
and I do not believe are particularly attractive (as seen above) as the ones
you see in all the advertising have been pruned to look "nice" and all
pictures are taken in the summer.. This plant may turn out to be
better than what I have initially thought. But if wanting an
Arborvitae for a windbreak there is still nothing better than the Techny
Arborvitae and it has the history to prove it.
UPDATE
We are no longer recommending or selling the Green Giant Arborvitae for
planting in the midwest for a windbreak species. After years of
testing it has winter burned badly and many have died in the winter. Plant
the Techny Arborvitae if you want arborvitae for a windbreak or screen.
