Thuja occidentalis Jantar - Canadian Arborvitae

The Thuja occidentalis 'Jantar' is a small conifer that forms a well-proportioned slender cone and charms with its amber-yellow foliage all year round. Growing relatively slowly, its growth is also limited, as it reaches a maximum height of 3m (10ft) or 4m, thus forming superb hedges requiring little pruning maintenance. It will also be very interesting when planted in isolation in a small garden, or in association in a mixed border. It is a very hardy conifer and not demanding on soil conditions.

The Thuja occidentalis, the Eastern White Cedar or Northern White Cedar, is sometimes called the Eastern Arborvitae or simply Arborvitae. It is an evergreen conifer of the Cupressaceae family, which includes many other ornamental genera such as Cypress, Chamaecyparis, Libocedrus, Thujopsis, and all Juniperus (Junipers). Native to northeastern North America, this Thuja is distributed over a wide geographic range that perfectly reflects the plasticity of its living conditions. In nature, it reaches a height of 15 to 20m (49 to 66ft), adopting a beautiful conical shape and a trunk covered with highly decorative bark. It is a very hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and poor, moist, or occasionally dry soils. Its wood is almost rot-resistant, light, fragrant, and easily flamable, making it suitable for multiple uses. It has given rise to more than 300 cultivars.

The 'Jantar' variety is a Polish selection, as hardy as one can imagine due to its origin (-30°C approximately). Its foliage has a beautiful yellowish amber hue, which remains throughout the year. Very bright, this conifer is particularly precious for brightening up the gloomy winter days! This Thuja reveals an aromatic foliage when crushed, consisting of flattened branches arranged in planes and covered with scale-like leaves 3 to 5mm long. Overlapping each other, the leaves give the branches a flat appearance. The tips of these branches have a beautiful amber point. Oriented in different planes, the branches give the plant a frilly aspect that is quite appealing. Its habit is distinctly columnar, making it a beautiful subject for planting in isolation in small gardens. As it does not grow much (up to 3m (10ft) maximum for about 1m (3ft) wide), it is also an excellent hedge plant for those who do not wish to be slaves to their hedge trimmer or shears!

Easy to grow like its counterparts, this Thuja thrives in most soils, from acidic to moderately calcareous, preferably moist and well-drained. Tolerating winter winds quite well, extremely hardy, it is an ideal conifer for beginners.

The 'Jantar' Western Thuja will find its place in a small garden or in a large rockery, grouped in a small free screen or planted in groups of three near an entrance. It pairs well with more disheveled shrubs - such as the Salix purpurea Nana, with its tousled habit and gray-blue foliage that will pleasantly contrast with its amber-yellow. For an even more colorful scene, opt for the Cotinus coggygria Dusky Maiden, with its foliage changing with the seasons, purple, orange, or bright red, in addition to its remarkable feathery flowering. In a contemporary garden, you can associate it with other graphic plants, and many conifers will be perfect companions. The Pinus densiflora Alice Verkade with its globular habit, dark green needles, and lighter shoots, or the Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana' with its unusual appearance and green foliage turning bronze in winter, will create a beautiful scene alongside our 'Jantar' Thuja.