Thuja occidentalis Globosa Aurea - Eastern White Cedar

The Canadian Arborvitae or Thuja occidentalis 'Globosa Aurea' is a dwarf conifer with a globose habit, very dense foliage, and slow growth. It offers a beautiful, bright, golden-yellow colour all year round. Its topiary appearance allows for many uses, such as in a small garden, rockery, as a standalone plant, in a bed with perennials or shrubs, or a large pot on the terrace. Hardy and not demanding on soil type, it can tolerate well-drained soil, even poor limestone, and occasionally dry and sunny exposure.

The Thuja occidentalis, the Canadian Arborvitae or Western Red Cedar, is sometimes called the White Cedar of Canada or Broom. It is an evergreen conifer of the cypress family native to northeastern North America. It is distributed over a wide geographical area that perfectly reflects the plasticity of its living conditions, from swamps to cliffs and hostile environments that discourage many other competing species. It reaches a height of 15 to 20 m in nature, adopting a beautiful conical habit and a trunk covered with a highly decorative, reddish-brown exfoliating bark. It is a very hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and poor, moist, or occasionally dry soils. Its almost rot-resistant, lightweight, fragrant, and easily flammable wood lends itself to many uses. More than 300 cultivars have been selected for their ornamental qualities.

The 'Globosa Aurea' cultivar, derived from this species, stands out for its very small size,  its globose habit as tall as it is wide, and its bright foliage. Its slow growth will reach a maximum height of 1 to 1.20 m and a corresponding spread after many years. When crushed, this conifer reveals aromatic foliage consisting of flattened branches that appear braided and covered with scale-like leaves 3 to 5 mm long. Overlapping each other, the diamond-shaped leaves give the twigs a flat appearance. The foliage remains juvenile in this variety and is golden yellow throughout the year.

The 'Globosa Aurea' Western Red Cedar blends harmoniously into even the smallest gardens, terraces, and balconies and in not-too-dry rockeries. Pair it with dwarf conifers with blue or dark green foliage. Once acclimated, its ease of maintenance makes it a preferred choice for gardeners looking for simple and practical solutions to enhance their outdoor space. The foliage of this plant brings a touch of bright and vibrant greenery throughout the year.