Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Globe’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low borders, formal gardens, and outdoor containers.
Benefits: A naturally round globe arborvitae with bright golden foliage that holds its ball shape without shearing. Adds year-round color to foundation beds and borders, taking on bronze tints in winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Coniferous Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded — natural globe.
Foliage Color: Bright Gold, tinged Bronze in winter
Mature Height: 3–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
A ready-made golden ball for beds, borders, and entryways, no shears required.
Globe arborvitae are a classic way to add structure to a foundation bed, and Golden Globe adds color to that structure. It grows naturally into a dense, rounded ball of bright golden foliage, with the gold strongest on the outer growth and a greener tone deeper inside the plant.
Growth is slow, and the plant settles at about three to four feet tall and wide. That makes it easy to place: a pair flanking a front step, a row along a walkway, a single ball at the corner of a bed, or a specimen in a large container on the patio.
In winter the gold takes on bronze tints, then brightens again with spring growth. Set against dark green yews and boxwood, or blue junipers and hostas, it lightens the whole planting in every season.
Care
Golden Globe Arborvitae Care
Plant in full sun for the brightest gold. In partial shade the plant still grows well, but the color turns more yellow-green.
Arborvitae prefers moist, well-drained soil and adapts to clay and to slightly alkaline ground. Avoid sites that stay waterlogged or that bake dry against a south-facing wall.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Arborvitae roots are shallow, so keep watering during dry spells in later years as well, and give plants a deep soak in late fall before the ground freezes. A layer of mulch over the root zone helps hold moisture.
Feed once in early spring with a slow release fertilizer. Plants in good soil often need nothing more.
Golden Globe keeps its round shape without shearing. If a stray shoot sticks out, clip it in spring or early summer, staying within the green foliage, since arborvitae does not regrow from bare interior wood. Heavy wet snow can push a globe open, so brush snow off the top after big storms.
Growing in Containers
Its slow growth and tidy shape suit a large container. Use a pot with open drainage holes and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in summer, and water through fall and on mild winter days when the mix is not frozen. Feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Golden Globe Arborvitae for Sale Online?
Our Golden Globe Arborvitae ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants shipped in late fall or winter may show bronze winter tints, which are normal and brighten again in spring. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Golden Globe Arborvitae Grow?
Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a rounded globe. Growth is slow, so it takes several years to reach that size. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart in a row.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
- Eastern arborvitae
- Northern white cedar
- American arborvitae
Is Golden Globe Arborvitae a native plant?
It is a selection of Thuja occidentalis, which is native to the northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the adaptability of the native species while adding ornamental traits such as golden foliage and a compact, rounded form. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Do I need to shear it to keep it round?
No. Golden Globe grows into a ball on its own, which is what sets it apart from upright arborvitae that need regular trimming to stay compact. An occasional snip of a stray shoot is all it usually takes. For upright and screening types, browse our Arborvitaes.
Will deer eat it?
Deer browse arborvitae, particularly in winter when other food is scarce. In areas with heavy deer pressure, protect plants with netting or a repellent from late fall through early spring. For evergreens deer tend to avoid, see our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
