Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
This evergreen will add color and vibrancy to your landscape all year round, with lime-green foliage during the warmer months that transitions to spectacular amber and gold during the winter. The foliage also has a unique, eye-catching texture that emphasizes the yellow edging on the lime green fronds. The surface of the foliage is much less refined than other varieties and wonderfully contrasts the shrub's elegant form. With an exceptionally well-behaved growth habit, this arborvitae is incredibly low maintenance, especially once mature and established.
The Amber Gold Arborvitae carries the traditional evergreen scent through your landscape. It has a conventional columnar form with a slightly pointed top that adds a classic pyramidal backdrop for other plants. It grows at a medium to slow rate and lives for about 30 years. Reaching 12 to 15 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide, it makes a perfect statement plant that will ensure your privacy and add beauty to your landscape.
Amber Gold Arborvitae Care
Plant this shrub in an area that receives full sun; if your landscape has limited sun, this variety can also tolerate partial shade. Plant in well-drained soil organically enriched with compost or decomposed manure instead of adding fertilizers when planting. Synthetic fertilizers can cause root burn on young arborvitae plants. Compost is ideal for adding nutrients to aid in growth and development. When mature, add fertilizer once a year in the spring before new growth starts to assist in foliage development. Take care to apply the fertilizer above the roots but away from the plant's trunk.
Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry until the shrub is adequately established. After being established, only water during dry spells and hot summers.
Prune damaged, diseased, or unsightly branches from this shrub during any season. This shrub should naturally maintain an attractive form, but feel free to trim the branches as needed to maintain size.
Amber Gold Arborvitae Spacing
Amber Gold is ideal as a border hedge or privacy screen. If planting this shrub in a group, space individual plants 4 to 5 feet apart for proper development.
Amber Gold Arborvitae Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 12-15 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2-3 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Upright, Columnar
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- Flower Description
- None (grown for bright golden-yellow foliage)
- Harvest Time
- 80-90 days green; 100+ days red
- Foliage Color
- , Green, Yellow
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen, Variegated
- Seasonal Interest
- , 4 Season Interest, Fall Interest, Winter Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Amber Gold Arborvitae
- Also Known As
- Amber Gold Arborvitae
- Botanical Name
- Thuja occidentalis Amber Gold
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!