American Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis

$29⁹⁹

Out of stock
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Plant Size

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

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This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

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Delivery and Shipping

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.

Standard Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From	To	S&H
$0	$19.99	$24.99
$20	$49.99	$29.99
$50	$69.99	$34.99
$70	$99.99	$39.99
$100	$129.99	$44.99
$130	$149.99	$48.99
$150	$150+	Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

American Arborvitae highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Thuja occidentalis
Growing Zones

3-8
Mature Height

25 - 40 feet
Mature Spread

10 - 15 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color

Green
Fall Color

Evergreen
Pollinator Friendly

No
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Spring

Growing Zones 3-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Elegant & Easy Privacy With American Arborvitae

Privacy Tree
Tall and Elegant
Easy Care
Windbreak

This is the classic American Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis. It brings an easy care elegance to your landscape, with its feathery foliage and crisp good looks.

This evergreen requires practically no maintenance and maintains its beautiful pyramidal shape and fluffy texture throughout its life. You can shear it to keep it small or allow it to grow to its natural height.

For a living privacy screen, plant several of them in a staggered row 4-6 feet on center depending upon how quickly you want a solid screen. Plant one on either side of an entryway, or in the corner of a house to instantly ground it into your landscape.

It also makes an outstanding specimen tree that works hard all year long. Pop a fabulous fall color shrub and ornamental grass in front of it for an effective display. It also blends well with other evergreens.

The American Arborvitae stands straight and tall wherever you plant it. Get yours today. Buy American!

Easy to grow

I love he soft touch, the thick foliage of arborcitaes and that it keeps it shape without pruning. I like the fact that it doesn't get as massive as others, like the green giant. I bought the smaller size, I was happy with how it was packaged. Overall, I'll buy from Nature Hills again.

Hello Miles,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear how much you appreciate the soft touch and lush, thick foliage of your American Arborvitae—it truly is a fantastic choice for both texture and ease of care. It’s great that the Arborvitae’s naturally contained size and neat shape fit well with what you wanted, especially compared to larger evergreens like Green Giant. We’re also pleased the smaller size met your expectations and that the packaging kept your plant safe during shipping.

If you haven’t already, you might find it helpful to occasionally check the soil moisture levels, especially during dry spells, to keep your Arborvitae thriving sans heavy pruning. And feel free to explore our care guides for tips to help it flourish year-round!

We appreciate your trust and look forward to helping with your planting endeavors for many seasons to come.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Easy to grow

Hi Miles,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear how much you love the soft touch and thick foliage of your American Arborvitae, and it’s great to know that the plant’s naturally tidy shape suits your garden perfectly. We also appreciate you noting the careful packaging—our team takes pride in ensuring every plant arrives healthy and ready to grow.

Since you enjoy the low-maintenance aspect, you might find our blog helpful, which offers tips on seasonal care to keep your Arborvitae looking its best all year long. And when you’re ready to add more greenery, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to help you pick out the perfect companions for your space.

Thanks again for choosing Nature Hills. We look forward to supporting your garden’s growth for many seasons to come!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

thuja

privacy plus windbreak; havent been in the growth of this tree long enough to be able to review.

Hi Peppy,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on your American Arborvitae! We’re glad to hear it’s already serving as a privacy screen and windbreak—both great uses for this versatile tree. Since you’re still in the early stages of watching its growth, we’d love to offer some tips to help you along the way: ensuring adequate watering especially during the first couple of years, regularly checking for pests, and providing balanced fertilizer in early spring can all support healthy development.

If you’d like, we have detailed care guides on our site that can offer more tailored advice as you watch your American Arborvitae thrive. Feel free to reach out anytime with questions or for personalized guidance!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

great help

i was looking to plant trees for a fun group thing and now looking face to face with the prices i am now set to buy them!!

Hi Moirnei,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and kind words! We're delighted to hear that you found our service helpful as you planned your group planting project with the American Arborvitae. We completely understand how pricing can surprise you when you're planning for a fun group activity, but it's wonderful that you're still determined to bring your green vision to life!

If you need any guidance on spacing, planting tips, or caring for your new Arborvitaes once they arrive, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We also have a wealth of resources on our website with detailed planting guides and care advice that can help your trees thrive.

Happy planting—this sounds like a rewarding experience for your group, and we're excited to support you along the way!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

great help

i was looking to plant trees for a fun group thing and now looking face to face with the prices i am now set to buy them!!

Hi moirnei,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that your group tree-planting project has inspired you to move forward with purchasing American Arborvitae.

We completely understand that pricing is an important factor when planning landscaping for a group, and we’re here to help you get the best value and success for your investment. If you need any tips on planting or caring for your arborvitae to keep them thriving, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You might also find our planting guides and care resources on NatureHills.com useful as you prepare for your planting day.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

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