Northern Spire Western Red Cedar

The Northern Spire Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata 'Northern Spire') is a fast-growing, columnar evergreen that brings year-round beauty, structure, and privacy to the garden. Native to the Pacific Northwest, this selection of the mighty Western Red Cedar stands out with its tall, narrow form, dense foliage, and rich green color that holds year-round - even in the dead of winter!

With a statuesque upright habit reaching 15-20 feet tall but staying just 5 feet wide, Northern Spire lives up to its name! The soft, fragrant, scale-like foliage forms flattened sprays that shimmer in the light and offer a pleasant aroma when crushed. The bark is reddish-brown and peels in narrow strips, adding textural interest.

These Arborvitaes’ cones are small, oblong, and discreet, appearing in summer and maturing to a warm brown in fall. It’s a tough-as-nails evergreen with a graceful, architectural presence!

Key Features

• Columnar form perfect for narrow spaces
• Fragrant, evergreen foliage in flat sprays
• Deer-resistant, salt-tolerant, handles urban pollution, and very cold-hardy
• Fast-growing and low-maintenance
• Native cultivar with cultural and ecological significance

Landscaping Uses

This conifer is a cultivar of Thuja plicata, a tree revered by Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest for its timber, bark, and spiritual significance. This tall, columnar evergreen is perfect for screening and structure!

• Living privacy fence or windbreak
• Foundation planting for large homes
• Vertical accent in formal or naturalized gardens
• Year-round screening for patios, pools, or hot tubs
• Narrow footprint ideal for side yards or property lines!
• Backdrop for flowering shrubs and perennials
• Planted in containers for structured entryway flanking
• Fantastic tall privacy hedge and property division along property lines

Care and Maintenance

Northern Spire is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, adaptable to a wide range of soils, and tolerant of high rainfall, clay soils, and coastal conditions. Cold-hardy, deer-resistant, and extremely tolerant of a wide range of conditions, it's a top pick for living walls, windbreaks, or elegant vertical accents.

As a woody, evergreen conifer, Northern Spire is drought-tolerant once established, loves sun, and handles both humid and wet coastal climates with ease!

• Planting Time: Spring or fall for the best root establishment
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Well-drained to moist soils; handles clay, loam, sand, and high rainfall
• Moisture Needs: Moderate moisture; drought tolerant once established
• Mulch: 3-4 inch-deep layer of arborist mulch or bark chips, and compost is beneficial
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with balanced evergreen fertilizer
• Arborvitae Pruning Info: Minimal; shape or lightly shear in late winter or early spring if needed
• Special Needs/Perks:
• Deer-resistant
• Pollution-tolerant
• Adaptable to compacted soils
• Tolerant of salt spray and urban conditions

Raise It Up With Northern Spire!

When you need height, year-round coverage, and rugged beauty in a small footprint, Northern Spire Western Red Cedar is your green knight. With its vertical elegance and carefree nature, it belongs in every garden that needs privacy or a handsome evergreen anchor!

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your region!

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Northern Spire Western Red Cedar grow?
Arborvitae trees and bushes tend to grow quickly—often 1-2 feet per year once established, especially in ideal conditions.

Is Northern Spire deer-resistant?
Yes, Thuja plicata cultivars like Northern Spire are naturally deer-resistant thanks to their aromatic foliage.

Can I plant Northern Spire in a container?
Yes, in a large container. It's great for patio privacy or flanking entryways, though it may need root pruning or repotting over time.

What’s the difference between Thuja plicata and Thuja occidentalis?
Western Red Cedar tends to grow larger, and faster and is more resistant to deer than American Arborvitae.

Will Northern Spire Arborvitae grow in clay soil?
Yes, it tolerates heavy, moist soils better than many evergreens, but good drainage is still ideal.