Thuja plicata Whipcord - Western Red Cedar

Similar to a small fountain, Thuja plicata 'Whipcord' is a dwarf form of California Thuja. It forms a graceful mound, composed of thread-like, weeping foliage. From spring to autumn, the foliage is a beautiful bright green colour, which then develops shades of bronze in winter. It is well suited for small gardens, planted alone, in rockeries, or alongside other dwarf conifers. It is a very adaptable variety that does not require pruning. It is easy to grow in any cool but well-drained soil, and prefers a sunny position. It also performs very well in pots.

Thuja plicata is also called Western Red Cedar or Lobb's Arborvitae. It is an evergreen conifer from the cypress family native to the northwest of North America, particularly northern California. In its natural environment, this giant reaches a height of 50 m to 60 m (164 ft to 196.9 ft) and can develop a trunk with a diameter of 3 m (9.8 ft) when it reaches the end of its life after around 700 years. It has long been exploited for its soft and durable wood, known in Europe as 'Red cedar'. This conifer reigns in the thickness of lush forests, but also descends to the banks of rivers or colonises swampy forests. It is a shade-tolerant species and loves humidity.

The 'Whipcord' variety stands out with its reduced size and weeping mound habit, with a crown supported by a single trunk. It also shows very unusual foliage for a thuja. Its growth is slow, so it will reach about 1.20 m (3.3 ft) in height and 1.50 m (3.3 ft) in spread at around 10 years old. At maturity, it will not exceed 2 m (6.6 ft) in all directions. This conifer has flexible, weeping, flattened branches covered with scale-like leaves. Overlapping each other, the leaves give the branchlets a flat appearance. The foliage is bright green and shiny from spring to autumn, then takes on a darker green colour with a bronze tinge in winter. This variety easily roots from its low branches and the rooted branches are capable of producing perfectly viable subjects, identical to the parent plant.

'Whipcord' thuja, with its exceptional ornamental qualities and its mane-like appearance, deserves to be planted more often, preferably in cool climates. It adapts to everything except dense shade and dry soils. Its flexible and graceful silhouette enhances any flower bed and stands out on a terrace in a large container. It is perfect as a specimen plant in a small garden, on a large slope, above a wall or ledge, or near a water feature, as it enjoys coolness. It can also be planted on an overhang to highlight a rocky scree. It is an asset in the design of a contemporary garden inspired more by the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures than by the gentleness of flowers. It pairs well with mahonias or tousled grasses like miscanthus, with a similar habit. The key is to play with volumes and colours.