Thuja, Arborvitae 'First Editions® Planet Earth™'

Height:  5 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight: Full Sun / Partial Shade

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Other Names:  Eastern White Cedar

Brand: First Editions®

Description:

A spectacular selection that forms a perfectly rounded, dense habit without any shearing; disease resistant, thrives in hot or cold climates; takes on bronze tones in winter; ideal for home landscape use; best with some sun, protect from drying winds.

Ornamental Features:

Rock 'N Grow® Back in Black Stonecrop has masses of beautiful clusters of creamy white star-shaped flowers with cherry red eyes at the ends of the stems from late summer to early fall, which emerge from distinctive crimson flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive large succulent round leaves emerge burgundy in spring, turning black in color with showy dark gray variegation and tinges of coppery-bronze throughout the season. The deep purple stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes:

Planet Earth® Arborvitae is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Planet Earth® Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Planet Earth® Arborvitae will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.