Thuja occidentalis Danica Aurea

The Thuja occidentalis 'Danica Aurea' is a very graphic small conifer that naturally forms a nice rounded mass and compact with a neat appearance, like a topiary. Its fairly fine foliage is very structured, beautifully golden in color, on flattened branches. Its slow growth and small size allow for many uses, in a rock garden, as a standalone plant, in a bed with bushes, or even in a large pot near an entrance. It is a hardy and undemanding conifer. 

The Thuja occidentalis, also known as the Eastern Arborvitae or White Cedar, is sometimes called the Eastern White Cedar or Arborvitae. It is an evergreen conifer in the Cupressaceae family native to northeastern North America. It is distributed over a wide geographic area that perfectly reflects the plasticity of its living conditions, from swamps to cliffs, all of which are hostile environments that discourage many other competing species. In the wild, it reaches a height of 15 to 20 m (49 ft 2 in to 65 ft 7 in), adopting a beautiful conical habit, and a trunk covered with a very decorative, reddish-brown, exfoliating bark. It is a very hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and poor, moist or occasionally dry soils. Its nearly rot-resistant, lightweight, fragrant, and easily flammable wood lends itself to many uses. It has given rise to more than 300 cultivars that have been selected for their ornamental qualities. Dwarf or reduced forms are generally more water-efficient.

The 'Danica Aurea' variety, highly appreciated, is the golden version of the famous 'Danica'. Its beautiful foliage takes on a golden colour in full sun, turning bronze in winter. It grows slowly, at a rate of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) per year, so that it will reach approximately 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions at the age of 10. This conifer reveals an aromatic foliage when crushed, consisting of thin, flexible, flattened branches arranged in vertical planes. They are covered with scale-like leaves 3 to 5 mm long. Imbricated with each other, the leaves give the branchlets a flat appearance.
Its small size should not be misleading, this conifer is very robust, it withstands cold temperatures down to at least -25°C and adapts to most soils, neutral or reasonably acidic or alkaline. It only requires a little moisture in summer.

The 'Danica Aurea' Western Arborvitae will find its place in a small garden, in a rock garden, or in combination with other plants in a bed. It can be installed in a beautiful container on the terrace or balcony. It goes well with softer-looking shrubs like the hakuro nishiki willow, the gauras. This small conifer likes large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools or buildings, and masonry works. It can also be associated with grasses, which are very complementary. It fits perfectly into the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. In this context, it can be happily paired with other graphic plants, such as the surprising Berberis thunbergii Rosy Rocket, which contrasts with its upright habit and variegated foliage of red, pink, and white, or the small Euonymus japonicus Microphyllus, with its shiny dark green leaves.