Thuja occidentalis Pendula - Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula' is a truly unique Canadian Thuja, graceful and difficult to find outside of botanical gardens. It is a slow-growing and small-sized variety with a weeping and trailing habit. Its light bluish-green foliage turns greyish in winter. This conifer can be shaped in various ways, and the effect will always be stunning.

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula' is a horticultural selection derived from Thuja occidentalis, the Eastern Arborvitae or White Cedar, sometimes called Canadian White Cedar or Eastern White Cedar. This botanical species is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Cupressaceae family and native to northeastern North America. In its natural habitat, the tree reaches a height of 15 to 20 metres, with a beautiful conical habit and a trunk covered with a highly decorative bark. It is a perfectly hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and poor, occasionally moist to dry soils. Its almost rot-resistant, lightweight, fragrant, and easily flammable wood is suitable for many uses. It has given rise to more than 300 varieties.

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula' is characterised by its very slow growth, small dimensions, and unusual habit. Its dimensions depend on how it is trained, but it rarely exceeds 4 metres in height (if staked or grafted). Similarly, its spread varies between 1.50 metres and 4 metres. Left untrained, this Thuja forms a mound with a slightly anarchic habit, with long branches initially upright and then trailing on the ground. When staked or grafted, it takes on a more weeping silhouette, with the lower branches forming a sort of "train". Its foliage, aromatic when crushed, consists of flattened twigs covered with scale-like leaves measuring 3 to 5 mm in length. The leaves are overlapped, giving the twigs a flat appearance. Its colour is a slightly bluish green from spring to summer, and then it leans more towards grey in autumn and winter.

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula' is suitable for gardens of all sizes, including small gardens. Use this collector's variety to create a focal point, as a standalone specimen on the lawn or in the centre of a bed composed of ground cover perennials. It pairs well with large stones and geometric lines. Use it in a Japanese-inspired setting or in a small urban garden. It will be perfect when combined with heathers.