Full Speed A Hedge® American Pillar Arborvitae

Full Speed A Hedge® American Pillar Arborvitae

Looking for a privacy screen that grows faster than you can say "hedge, please!"? Aptly named Full Speed A-Hedge®, the American Pillar Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar') is one of the fastest-growing evergreen trees on the market! This lush, green giant can shoot up to 3 feet a year when young, forming a dense, upright column perfect for blocking views, dampening noise, and shielding wind. Best of all? It doesn't drop messy cones and stays narrow, so it won't gobble up yard space.

This beautifully upright, columnar Arborvitae matures to 20-25 feet tall while staying only 3-4 feet wide. Its tight, green foliage maintains rich color year-round, refusing to bronze in winter, and it's naturally tidy without pruning. With no pine cones and no wild flopping limbs, this one's a true garden soldier. And thanks to its 'Hetz Wintergreen' parentage, it's both cold-hardy and heat tolerant, performing beautifully from the frigid North to the humid South.

Hardy in Zones 3-8, American Pillar shines in full sun to part shade, handles a variety of soils, and will create a natural privacy barrier in just a few growing seasons!

Key Features

• Grows up to 3 feet per year in youth
• Stays under 30 feet tall—power line safe
• Only 3-4 feet wide—perfect for space-saving vertical accents
• Dense, green foliage year-round
• No cone drop—clean and tidy
• Deer resistant and low maintenance
• Heat and cold tolerant (Zones 3-8)
• Excellent as a living fence, noise buffer, or windbreak

Landscaping Uses

This evergreen privacy tree grows 20-25 feet tall with a narrow, 3-4 foot wide columnar habit, making it ideal where height is needed but space is tight.

• Use as a fast-growing hedge or privacy screen
• Perfect backdrop for perennial beds and borders
• Line along driveways or property edges
• Wind and sound buffer around patios or seating areas
• Living fence for urban lots or country homes
• Container-grown for anchoring corners of patios or entryways

Care and Maintenance

This broadleaf evergreen thrives in most conditions and is tough as nails once established. It's known for being drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and adaptable to a range of climates and soil types. Read in-depth Arborvitae care information here.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall for best establishment
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Prefers moist, well-drained soils; tolerates clay and urban conditions
• Moisture Needs: Moderate moisture, especially during the first few years
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch to conserve moisture and regulate root temps
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with a balanced evergreen fertilizer
• Pruning Info: Minimal pruning needed; shape if desired in late spring
• Special Perks/Growing Tips:
• Extremely fast-growing
• Pollution-tolerant
• Wind/sound buffering
• Safe for under power lines

A Pillar of the Garden Community

The origin story of this shrub is just charming! Nurseryman John Houser discovered this beauty as a unique branch sport in his nursery. So thrilled with its potential, he delayed his retirement at age 85 to patent it, ensuring its utility would benefit landscapers and home gardeners alike!

So if you need a hedge, stat? The Full Speed A Hedge® American Pillar Arborvitae is your green-speedy sentinel. Whether you're hiding an unsightly view or crafting your own meditative garden retreat, this tree is the go-to for beauty and performance.

Buy now and Nature Hills Nursery will ship your new privacy hedge to your doorstep at the proper planting time for your growing zone.