Types of Arborvitae and Their Zones

American Arborvitae

• American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) grows natively in the eastern United States. It is cold-hardy up to Zone 2, but requires constant moisture and protection from winter sun and to avoid browning foliage during cold weather. American arborvitae does not easily tolerate heat or drought. The southern extent for this species is about Zone 6. Some of the most common varieties of American arborvitae include Tom Thumb, fastigiata, douglasii pyramidalis and woodwardii.

Western Arborvitae

• Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is native to the western United States. In the wild, western arborvitae can grow as tall as 200 feet. In cultivation, plants usually reach only 50 to 75 feet in height. This species of arborvitae is less tolerant of cold than its eastern relative, but slightly more tolerant of drought, suitable for landscaping use in Zone 5 through Zone 7. Common varieties of western arborvitae include elegantissima, virescens and excelsa.

Japanese Arborvitae

• Japanese arborvitae (Thuja standishii) has foliage more delicate than that of the two arborvitae species native to the United States and is less subject to browning leaves in the winter. Plant collector Robert Fortune introduced this species of arborvitae to England from Japan in the mid-1800s. The species is less common in the United States, but a hybrid that crosses Japanese and western arborvitaes, known as green giant, is a frequently used landscaping plant. Japanese arborvitae grows in a fairly narrow range of hardiness zones, including 6a to 7b.

Oriental Arborvitae

• Oriental arborvitae (Thuja orientalis or Platycladus orientalis) is native to China and Korea. Multiple varieties are available, including several with colored foliage. Examples include the aurea cultivar with yellow foliage, blue cone with blue-green foliage and the golden-tipped bonita and Westmost varieties. Oriental arborvitae is the most cold-sensitive of the arborvitaes and the most drought-tolerant, suitable for Zone 6b through Zone 9a.