North Pole® Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Art Boe'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Preorder Shipping Schedule
We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.
| Zone 3-4 | Week of March 30th |
| Zone 5 | Week of March 16th |
| Zone 6-12 | Week of March 2nd |
Shipping Rates
Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com
Description
Hardy, Slender North Pole® Arborvitae Evergreen
- Tight Columnar Habit
- Great Screen for Narrow Sites
- Year-Round Evergreen Color
- Low Maintenance
- Perfect in Containers
- Hardy
- Full Sun to Part Shade
For a beautiful, hardworking tree that adds elegance to your garden all year, try Proven Winners® North Pole® Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Art Boe'). This hardy evergreen is an outstanding Proven Winners® variety of White Cedar selected by the famed Art Boe of Faribault, MN. It is resistant to winter burn, which is great for colder climates!
It features a narrow and upright form that never needs pruning. This is a soft, green tree that makes an excellent year-round screen.
Even smaller residential landscapes can use North Pole® to create a green privacy wall. Best of all, it's narrow enough that it won't take up your whole yard!
Proven Winners® North Pole® Arborvitae will stay narrow. It's very easy to grow, is resistant to winter burn and works in either full sun or partial shade.
This plant exhibits good resistance to breakage from ice or snow accumulations, so you won't even have to worry about the harsh winter weather taking its toll on your North Pole. The dark green color holds year-round.
Hardy in a wide range of USDA growing zones 3 - 7, any gardener would love a North Pole® Arborvitae with its narrow, columnar growing habit, and low-maintenance nature. Order today!
How to Use North Pole Arborvitae in the Landscape
North Pole® Arborvitae is narrower than Dark Green, Techny, and Green Giant Arborvitae varieties. It's a great choice for taller screening in tight areas. Consider this a neighbor-friendly fence to easily block out a nosy neighbor, or an ugly view.
North Pole® Arborvitae has a tall, narrow habit filled out with dense, dark green foliage. It maintains its vibrant color year-round, so it's perfect for places where you'd like some seasonal interest during the long winter months, or to block that cold winter wind.
It will work equally well in either a formal or casual setting with its dramatic presence. This useful tree makes a great specimen or screen.
For a hedge, plant it 3 feet on center. You'll measure from the center of one trunk to the center of the next. This can be used in a side yard for easy-peasy privacy.
Or, consider using them like this to create the walls of a garden room. Create a retreat from the rest of the world with a Zen Meditation Garden and outdoor yoga studio. Heck, you can even use them for something more prosaic like hiding the garbage cans or utility box.
If you want them to stand alone as individual trees, just space them out ten or fifteen feet apart. Try planting several along the length of a shrub or mixed perennial border.
Keep them evenly spaced for a formal or ultra-modern look. Or, vary the spacing to create a natural flow and rhythm along the border.
Use this as a vertical accent around your yard to draw the eye and bring a 'right-sized' structure to your garden design. Use it as a bold accent plant in mixed borders, or wherever you need a narrow columnar selection of wintergreen has excellent hardiness and dark green winter foliage color.
A pair of these vertical accents could frame your front door. You can plant them directly in the ground, or North Poles® can also be planted in large containers.
For a fun look, try mixing North Pole® as thrillers in your seasonal flowering patio pots. They'll likely overwinter beautifully for you. Try different combinations each year, relying on North Pole® to bring a lush look no matter what you partner with.
They'll work with just about any other shrub or perennial. What a nice, versatile small tree that requires very little care!
#ProPlantTips for Care
Few problems bother this plant in most areas where it can be grown. It is hardy into growing Zone 3 and will resist winter burn in those cold areas.
Arborvitae are fairly adaptable, but some considerations should be followed for the best performance. The North Pole® appreciates full sun but tolerates dappled shade well, too. It does best when it receives at least 4 hours of sunlight per day. About the only thing North Pole® won't tolerate is full shade.
The tree prefers well-drained soil. It won't tolerate arid conditions that get too dry. Moist, well-drained soils are best. Mulch this plant with a thick 2 - 3 inch layer spread out past its canopy. Please be sure not to let any mulch touch the trunk!
Give it moderate moisture on a regular schedule. This tree can tolerate periodic heavy rains for short periods.
Please take care in areas with high populations of deer. Provide fencing and apply Deer Repellent according to the directions.
You'll never need to prune it. The plants have a soft natural look and they stay narrow and straight without any help. However, if you'd like to shape it a bit, prune it in spring before July.
What a wonderful tree! Order yours today!
Specifications
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Growth RateModerate
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT, PR
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