Species oriental arborvitae

oriental arborvitae

Platycladus orientalis

The Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) is a coniferous evergreen and a member of the cypress family. It is nativeto Eastern Asia where it is found in forests, river banks and mountainous areas from China to Japan. It is a medium to large sized conifer, typically growing up to 50 feet tall with an open, pyramidal shape. Its needles are awl-shaped and clustered in flat sprays of green or glaucousblue-green color. The cones are oval shaped and yellow-brown. The Oriental arborvitae can tolerate a range of soils, excluding very wet and poorly drained. It provides attractive, year-round foliage and can be planted as an ornamental, a hedge or windbreak.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Layering Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 9

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Oriental arborvitae prefer moist soil, but too much water can cause root rot. Water when the top inch or 2 of soil feels dry. Containers need more frequent watering than plants in the ground. During the growing season, water your plant deeply and thoroughly once a week.When temperatures rise in the summer months, water your plants every 3 to 4 days to keep the soil moist. In the winter, water your Oriental arborvitae every 2 to 3 weeks (or as needed) if temperatures are above freezing and there is no rain or snow.

sunlight

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) require direct sunlight in order to grow and thrive. The amount of sunlight that oriental arborvitae receive will depend on the season and the geographical area it is planted in. In the summer months, they should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of full sun. During autumn and winter, they may require less direct sunlight – around 4 hours per day. They can tolerate partial shade and can even thrive in areas that receive some shade during the day. Oriental arborvitae should be placed in an area of the garden that receives direct sunlight in the morning and protection from the harsher afternoon sun in the warmer months.

pruning

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) benefit most from light pruning throughout the year. Fading foliage should be trimmed off. Pruning should be done twice in late winter and early summer. You can also lightly trim throughout the growing season. Summer pruning should focus on removing weak growth, while winter pruning should focus on shaping and promoting denser growth. When pruning Oriental arborvitae, avoid pruning too deeply into older wood. Doing so can seriously reduce the vitality of the plant, so only cut outer branches. For best results, avoid heavy pruning and aim for gentle shaping.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Platycladus orientalis typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map