Junior Giant Arborvitae

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

15 - 20 Feet

Mature Spread

3-5 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Bred from the famous Green Giant, Junior Giant Arborvitae has a compact frame that is perfect for creating privacy in smaller spaces with a maximum height of 20 feet. You can install this easy shrub in hedges, borders, and privacy screens. The foliage is a deep-textured green that rarely needs pruning and will stay green all year. This non-flowering shrub is perfect for beginner gardeners or those who want a low-maintenance privacy shrub. It brings a sense of calm and lightness to a border and can increase property value. 

Perfect for mass plantings, this shrub features a fantastic evergreen fragrance that will fill you with delight. It grows quickly at a rate of two feet per year to form an upright, uniform shape. Junior Giant grows in zones 5-8 and is cold hardy down to -10°F; it is a lover of heat and humidity and will adapt well to any location. As a bonus, it is incredibly deer resistant and drought tolerant. Junior Giant Arborvitae is perfect for creating the serene privacy you want. You can also plant these shrubs in a container, ideal for framing entryways, or for use for balcony or terrace privacy!

Junior Giant Arborvitae Care

This Arborvitae will do well in full sun and partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but can adapt to many different soil types. Choose a planting site away from any low utility lines or overhanging structures. Once planted, water often and deeply for a few weeks to help the root system grow, and then water twice a week. After it is well established, about a year, natural rainfall should be enough to keep it watered. Nitrogen is one of the most essential nutrients to aid in evergreen growth, so fertilize in the early spring after the last hard frost has passed and before new growth begins. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and water thoroughly. Make sure not to fertilize your plant during hot or dry weather. 

Start lightly trimming and shaping your Arborvitae directly after planting. Light trimming encourages a dense growth pattern and will increase the amount of foliage. Incredibly low maintenance, Junior Giant will only need pruning in late winter or early spring to promote new growth. Remove dead or damaged branches anytime of year as needed. Prune to create a conical shape, as having an oversized top will inhibit the amount of sunlight that reaches the lower branches. Trim the branches horizontally, and only trim branches with evidence of new growth; branches without new growth are done growing and will not grow back.

Junior Giant Arborvitae Spacing

Junior Giant Arborvitae will reach a height of 15-20 feet and a width of 3-5 feet. Plant this shrub in holes twice the size of the root ball, 3-5 feet apart. Fill in the hole with soil while leaving the shrub's crown to sit above the soil.