Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Giant’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, borders, formal gardens, and outdoor containers.
Benefits: A classic globe arborvitae with rich green foliage that forms a dense, rounded ball on its own. Slow growing and easy to fit into foundation beds, low hedges, and containers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Coniferous Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded — dense natural globe.
Foliage Color: Rich Green
Mature Height: 3–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
A naturally round evergreen that keeps its shape with almost no help from you.
Little Giant is a dwarf form of eastern arborvitae that grows into a tight, rounded ball of soft, fan-shaped sprays. It reaches about three to four feet tall and wide, slowly, so it stays in scale under windows and along walks for many years.
That steady globe shape is what makes it useful. Set one at each side of a doorway or step for a formal touch, repeat a few along a foundation to tie a bed together, or plant them in a row for a low evergreen hedge that never needs to be squared off. It also suits a large patio container.
The foliage stays rich green through the growing season and gives beds structure in winter, after perennials have died back and deciduous shrubs have dropped their leaves. It grows in full sun to partial shade and takes a wide range of soils, including clay.
Care
Little Giant Arborvitae Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Plants in at least six hours of sun stay the densest; in heavier shade the globe grows looser and more open.
Arborvitae prefers moist, well-drained soil but adapts to clay, loam, and alkaline soils. Avoid spots where water stands after rain.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish, and during dry spells in the second year. A two-to-three-inch layer of mulch helps keep the roots evenly moist. Water well in late fall before the ground freezes, which helps limit winter browning.
Feeding needs are light. An application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring is plenty.
No shearing is needed to keep the globe shape. If you want a crisper outline, lightly trim the new growth in late spring or early summer, and avoid cutting back into old, bare wood, which does not resprout. Brush off heavy, wet snow in winter so it does not split the rounded top.
Growing in Containers
Its slow growth and compact shape suit a large patio container. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather and through dry winter thaws, and 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 Little Giant Arborvitae for Sale Online?
Our Little Giant Arborvitae ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Little Giant Arborvitae Grow?
Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded globe. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a continuous low hedge, or 4 feet apart if you want each globe to keep its own shape.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
- Eastern arborvitae
- Northern white cedar
- Globe arborvitae
Is Little Giant Arborvitae a native plant?
It is a selection of Thuja occidentalis, which is native to northeastern North America and the Great Lakes region. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the character of the native species in a smaller, more garden-friendly form. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Can I use it as a low hedge?
Yes. Planted about 3 feet apart, the globes grow together into a soft, rounded low hedge around 3 to 4 feet tall that holds its shape without regular shearing. For taller screening and more choices, see our Arborvitaes.
Do deer eat arborvitae?
Deer do browse arborvitae, especially in late winter when other food is scarce. In areas with heavy deer pressure, protect plants with netting or repellent through the winter. If deer are a constant problem, consider our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens instead.
