Thuja occidentalis Danica - Canadian Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Danica' is a small coniferous bush that is round and striking. It forms a beautiful ball with a neat appearance, covered with aromatic medium green foliage that becomes darker and bronze in winter. Its slow growth and small size allow for many uses: in a rock garden, as a standalone plant, in a border with perennials or shrubs, or even in a large pot on the terrace. It is a very hardy conifer, not demanding in terms of soil type, and its cultivation presents no difficulty in well-drained but rather moist soil, in a sunny position.

Thuja occidentalis, also known as Eastern Arborvitae or Northern White Cedar, is sometimes called the White Cedar of Canada or Balai. It is an evergreen conifer of the cypress family native to northeastern North America. It is distributed over a wide geographical area that perfectly reflects the plasticity of its living conditions, from swamps to cliffs, and all hostile environments that discourage many other competing species. In nature, it reaches a height of 15 m to 20 m (49.2 ft to 65.6 ft), 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, wet or occasionally dry soils. Its almost rot-proof, light, 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.

The highly appreciated 'Danica' variety is distinguished by its very small size, its round growth habit, and its medium green foliage with changing colours. It has slow growth, so it will reach 40 cm (15.7 in) in all directions by the age of 10 years. At maturity, it will reach a maximum height of 1 m (3.3 ft) after many long years. This conifer consists of flattened branches arranged in planes, and covered with scale-like leaves 3 mm to 5 mm (0.11 in to 0.2 in) long. Overlapping each other, the leaves give the twigs a flat appearance. When crushed, the foliage produces a pleasant aroma. The foliage is medium green and shiny from spring to autumn, then it takes on a dark green hue largely tinged with bronze in winter. Slender cones, measuring 8 mm to 12 mm (0.31 in to 0.5 in) long and 4 mm to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.2 in) wide, are formed by 4 or 5 scales, and are brown at maturity.

Thuja occidentalis 'Danica' works well in a small garden, in a rock garden, grouped in a small free-standing screen, or planted in groups of three near an entrance. It can also be installed in a pretty container on a terrace or balcony. It goes well with more disorderly shrubs, large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools or houses and masonry structures. Plant it with complementary grasses or dwarf conifers with prostrate habits (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globose habits (Picea abies 'Little Gem'), or even the indestructible Microbiota decussata whose autumn colour is similar. The visual qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes and textures to the daintiness of flowers. Thuja occidentalis 'Danica' is a perfect alternative to trimmed boxwood or holly when using plants to mark pathways or border terraces. They also add permanence to the structure of a flowerbed. The key is to play with volumes and colours to find the right balance.