Junior Giant Arborvitae

A compact privacy powerhouse! The Junior Giant Arborvitae PP#31,297 (Thuja x plicata 'Junior Giant') is the fun-sized cousin of the popular Green Giant Arborvitae, prized for its narrower, more compact habit that still delivers impressive height. This evergreen conifer is fast-growing, fragrant, and incredibly low-maintenance. It provides a dense, lush screen that stays green year-round, without taking up the real estate of its larger relatives.

It's perfect for tight suburban lots or smaller landscapes needing privacy in a hurry! With a naturally pyramidal shape, Junior Giant reaches about 20 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide at maturity. Its scale-like, rich green foliage grows in flat, fan-shaped sprays, giving it that classic arborvitae texture. Unlike some evergreens that brown or bronze in winter, this one keeps its fresh green color all year long.

Native to the Pacific Northwest, Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) has long been revered by Indigenous cultures for its wood and spiritual symbolism of protection and endurance. It rarely produces cones, and when it does, they are small and unobtrusive.

Key Features

• Compact cultivar of the famous Green Giant Arborvitae
• Fast-growing evergreen reaching 15-20 feet tall
• Bagworm and pest-resistant!
• Stays narrow at 3-5 feet wide—ideal for tight spaces!
• Fragrant, deep green foliage year-round
• Urban condition/pollution-tolerant, and deer resistant
• Thrives in USDA Zones 5–8

Landscaping Uses

This space-saving conifer grows in a narrow pyramidal form. It is resistant to deer, pests, and diseases, making it an easy-care solution for privacy, windbreaks, or evergreen accents.

• Excellent for narrow hedgerows and privacy screens
• Great for privacy screens and windbreaks
• Use as a living fence along property lines
• A perfect backdrop for Landscape beds and Garden borders
• Ideal for tall privacy in small-space landscapes
• Punctuation mark-like accent plant for formal or informal garden styles
• Works well in large containers when young
• Fantastic formal row along driveways

Care and Maintenance

This Arborvitae is sun-loving, hardy, and incredibly tough. It handles humidity, poor soils, and city conditions with ease. Junior Giant is a hardy Arborvitae that brings that legacy to modern yards! This cultivar tolerates heat, humidity, and even urban pollution with ease, thriving in full sun to part shade.

• Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam, or sandy soils. Avoid standing water
• Moisture Needs: Moderate; water regularly during establishment
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of bark mulch around the base; compost can be mixed into the planting hole to improve soil
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer
• Arborvitae Pruning Info: Minimal pruning needed; shape in early spring if desired
• Special Needs/Perks:

• Deer resistant
• Pollution and salt-tolerant
• Great for small-space gardeners
• Heat and humidity-tolerant
• Resistant to bagworms and most common Arborvitae pests!

A Little Giant With Big Impact

For gardeners short on space but big on privacy needs, Junior Giant is the answer. This little giant packs all the punch of its larger kin with none of the sprawl. Its lush evergreen form adds structure, protection, and elegance to any yard!

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship Junior Giant Arborvitae at the ideal time for planting in your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Junior Giant Arborvitae grow?
Arborvitae grows quickly—about 2 to 3 feet per year once established.

Does Junior Giant need pruning?
Not usually. It grows in a naturally tidy pyramid shape. Light shaping in early spring is all it needs.

Is Junior Giant Arborvitae deer resistant?
Yes, it's known for excellent deer resistance because of its aromatic foliage, unlike Thuja occidentalis types.

Does Junior Giant stay green in winter?
Yes! It retains its deep green color all year without bronzing.