Rushmore White Cedar
Thuja occidentalis "Rushmore"
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 5 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 2
Other Names: Eastern Arborvitae, American Arborvitae
Description:
A sturdy and hardy upright evergreen shrub that is very tight and compact; has excellent resistance to winterburn; foliage is consistantly green all year long; makes an excellent hedge plant, will tolerate some pruning
Ornamental Features:
Rushmore White Cedar has dark green foliage. The scale-like leaves remain dark green through the winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. The shaggy indian red bark is not particularly outstanding.
Landscape Attributes:
Rushmore White Cedar is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Rushmore White Cedar is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- General Garden Use
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- Vertical Accent
Plant Characteristics:
Rushmore White Cedar will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder zones.
This is a selection of a native North American species.
