Thuja ‘Green Giant’, commonly known as Green Giant Arborvitae, is a fast-growing, disease-resistant evergreen prized for its towering height and dense, pyramidal form. Reaching 30 to 50 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide, this hybrid conifer grows up to 3 feet per year, making it one of the most popular choices for privacy screens, windbreaks, and large-scale evergreen hedging. Its soft, rich green foliage holds color well through winter, and it is highly adaptable to various soil types and environmental conditions. However, as a non-native hybrid, it offers limited ecological benefit for native wildlife.

Why choose Green Giant Arborvitae:

• Rapid growth: Quickly creates privacy or wind protection in large landscapes

• Dense evergreen form: Pyramidal shape with lush foliage year-round

• Low maintenance: Drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and deer-resistant

Cultivating tips:

• Sun exposure: Thrives in full sun to part shade

• Soil needs: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; adaptable to clay and loam

• Maintenance: Minimal; prune to maintain shape or manage size as needed

Designs for your garden:

• Privacy screens: Ideal for tall, fast-growing hedges along property lines

• Windbreaks: Creates effective buffers in exposed or rural areas

• Large foundations: Adds dramatic vertical structure to estate-scale landscapes

Ecological considerations:

• Non-native hybrid: Offers limited value for pollinators or native wildlife

• Low biodiversity support: Not a host plant for native insects or birds

• Use with natives: Combine with native evergreens to support a healthier habitat

Looking for native alternatives?

Ilex opaca – American Holly: A tall, pyramidal native evergreen tree with red berries and dense, spiny foliage that supports birds and wildlife year-round.
Juniperus virginiana – Eastern Red Cedar: A durable, drought-tolerant native conifer with aromatic foliage and berries that feed songbirds.
Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ – Shamrock Inkberry: A dense, broadleaf native evergreen ideal for lower hedging and native-friendly garden designs.