Green Giant Arborvitae

About Green Giant Arborvitae

The "Overnight" Privacy Solution for Your Landscape

Imagine reclaiming your backyard sanctuary in just a few short seasons. The Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae isn't just a tree; it's the fastest, most reliable route to a lush, living wall. Whether you're blocking a nosy neighbor, buffering street noise, or creating a windbreak, the Green Giant delivers the dense, evergreen coverage you need with a speed that seems almost magical. As one of the most sought-after privacy trees on the market, it turns "exposed" into "enclosed" faster than almost any other evergreen.

Key Features

Why Gardeners Choose the Green Giant

• Rocket-Like Growth Rate: You don't have time to wait decades for privacy. The Green Giant is famous for its vigor, capable of shooting up 3 to 5 feet per year once established. This hybrid vigor means a small investment today becomes a towering privacy hedge in a fraction of the time compared to traditional arborvitae.
• Bulletproof Hardiness: Forget the finicky Leyland Cypress that succumbs to disease in the heat. The Green Giant is a tough-as-nails hybrid (a cross between Western Red Cedar and Japanese Arborvitae) that laughs at humidity, resists drought once established, and stands strong against heavy snow loads. From the humid soils of Georgia to the chilly winds of Michigan, this tree adapts and thrives.
• Deer Resistance: For many of us, deer are the ultimate garden pest. While no plant is 100% deer-proof in a famine, the Green Giant is significantly more deer resistant than its cousins. Its foliage is less palatable, meaning your hedge stays green and full, not stripped bare to the trunk.

Growing Requirements

Growing Success: Positioning & Care

• Sun & Soil Mastery: Your Green Giant craves sunlight. Plant it where it can soak up at least 6 hours of full sun a day for that iconic, dense growth. It's incredibly forgiving regarding soil, tolerating heavy clays and sandy loams alike, provided they drain well.
• Zones & Hardiness: Thriving in USDA Zones 5–8, this tree handles the swing from freezing winters to scorching summers with grace.
• Mature Size: Plan for grandeur. This is not a small shrub. At maturity, a Green Giant can reach 40–60 feet tall and 12–18 feet wide. It creates a monumental backdrop for your landscape.

Seasonal Interest & Care

• Year-Round Emerald Beauty: While deciduous trees leave you exposed in winter, the Green Giant keeps its rich, fern-like foliage all year. In colder zones, you might notice a natural bronzing on the tips during winter—don't panic! This is a normal protective reaction to the cold; they will brighten back to a vibrant spring green as temperatures rise.
• Watering for Success: The "Sleep, Creep, Leap" rule applies here. Water deeply and regularly during the first year to establish the deep taproot. Once that root system is locked in, your trees become remarkably drought-tolerant.

Landscape Uses

Strategic Placement & Spacing

• The Privacy Screen: To create that solid "living wall," space your Green Giants 5 to 6 feet apart. This allows the lower branches to interlock quickly, shutting out views and noise.
• The Windbreak: If you are planting for wind protection or a more natural look, give them 8 to 12 feet of room. This spacing allows each tree to develop its classic pyramidal form fully.
• Pro Tip: Avoid the "soldier row" look by planting in a staggered "zig-zag" pattern. This creates a thicker, more sound-absorbing barrier faster than a single straight line.

Ready to Reclaim Your Yard?

There is no better time to start your privacy project than now. Every season you wait is a season of lost growth. Order your Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae today, and watch your landscape transform into the private retreat you deserve.

Explore More from Nature Hills

Green Giant Arborvitae belongs to our collection of fast growing trees and deer resistant plants, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in zone 5 plants, trees & shrubs and zone 6 plants, trees & shrubs regions. For help choosing between varieties, read our guide Emerald Green vs Green Giant Arborvitae: Which Is Right for Your Yard? or discover more about this versatile evergreen in Learn More About Arborvitae, the Tree of Life.