Thuja occidentalis Selena - Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Selena' is a slow-growing conifer that forms a large, dense, and bright green ball, adorned with yellow to cream shoots. It can be placed in a large rockery, as a standalone specimen, in the centre of a bed, or in a large container on a contemporary terrace. It is a very hardy shrub, decorative in all seasons, and requires little maintenance. It only dislikes prolonged droughts.

Thuja occidentalis 'Selena' is a Polish horticultural selection by Wiesław Wnuk, introduced to the market in 1993. The species, Thuja occidentalis, also known as Eastern Arborvitae or Northern White Cedar, is a persistent conifer from the cypress family native to northeastern North America. It is distributed over a wide geographical area that perfectly reflects the flexibility of its living conditions, from swamps to cliffs, hostile environments that discourage many other competing species. In the wild, it reaches a height of 15 to 20 metres, 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 soils, not too dry or wet. Its almost rot-resistant, lightweight, fragrant, and easily flammable wood lends itself to many uses. It has given rise to more than 300 cultivars that have been selected for their ornamental qualities.

The 'Selena' variety forms a well-rounded ball that widens with age. Its growth is slow, so it will reach approximately 1 metre in height and 1.50 metres in width at the age of 20-25 years. This dense and regular conifer has aromatic foliage when crushed, consisting of flattened branches arranged in planes and covered with scale-like, 3 to 5 mm long leaves. Overlapping each other, the leaves give the short twigs a fan-like appearance. The mature foliage is a very bright light green, while the young shoots change from golden yellow to cream.

The 'Selena' Western Arborvitae easily fits into a small garden, a rockery, can be used to create a privacy screen, or planted in groups of three near an entrance. It also adapts well to container cultivation. This elegant variety creates beautiful scenes with more disorderly shrubs such as abelias or Pyracantha 'Sparkler'. It can also be combined with complementary grasses or heathers. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally stand out in a contemporary or French garden. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally enhance a bed, mark pathways, or border a terrace. The key is to play with volumes and colours.