There are few plants better to add a upright, phallic statement to the garden, than the native (Canada south to South Carolina) American arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’. It is truly odd that I’ve never heard a native plant talk that recommended planting this…hmm. I’ve grown this in every garden I’ve every built, valued for it’s amazing tight, upright form. This unique clone was discovered in 1970 in a batch of seedlings by Constant DeGroot, the longtime propagator for Canada’s Sheridan Nursery. It was first introduced by Iseli Nursery in 1980. The mature size is about 20′ tall x 3′ wide. Hardiness is Zone 2a-8b.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’