Thuja occidentalis Zmatlik - Canadian Arborvitae

The Thuja occidentalis 'Zmatlik' forms a small, elegant and graphic bush. It is evergreen, its narrow conical habit is supported by ascending branches, beautifully spiralled. They are covered with finely textured dark green foliage. Its modest size and slow growth make it suitable for small gardens, where it becomes a focal point. Planted as a hedge, it creates an original and refined screen, in the garden or in large containers on the terrace. It is an adaptable and hardy conifer, not very demanding on the nature of the soil, as long as it is well-drained and not too dry. It appreciates a sunny exposure.

Thuja occidentalis, also known as Eastern arborvitae or Northern white-cedar, is sometimes called Canadian white cedar 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, all hostile environments that discourage many other competing species. In nature, it reaches a height of 15 to 20 m (49 to 66ft), 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 almost rot-resistant, 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 'Zmatlik' variety, little known in France, stands out for its modest size, compact conical to columnar habit, and its ascending and spiralled branches, which are very unusual for a thuja. Its growth is slow, so it will reach a height of about 2.5 m (8ft) with a width of 1 m at maturity. This conifer has aromatic foliage when crushed, consisting of fine, flattened twigs arranged in planes, covered with scale-like leaves 3 to 5 mm long. The leaves overlap each other, giving the twigs a flat appearance. The foliage is a very deep and shiny dark green color all year round.

The 'Zmatlik' western thuja, with its exceptional ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation, deserves to be planted more often. It adapts to everything except dense shade and waterlogged or excessively dry soils. Its dark silhouette, full of elegance, is destined to enhance any flowerbed. It can be planted without hesitation in isolation in a small garden, on a large slope, among rocks, or near a swimming pool, as it goes well with geometric lines and masonry structures. As it tolerates atmospheric pollution, it can also be planted as a small hedge, in the city, to preserve the privacy of a terrace or balcony. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally blend into the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally anchor flowerbeds, mark pathways, border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with mahonias or tousled grasses with a very complementary temperament. The key is to play with volumes and colors.