North Pole Arborvitae

North Pole Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Art Boe')

North Pole Arborvitae is a narrow evergreen built for privacy in tight spaces, giving you strong screening without the wide footprint of many hedging plants. Its dense, upright form adds year-round structure that makes borders, property lines, and foundations look more finished in every season. The deep green foliage holds its color well through winter in many landscapes, so your screen stays attractive when it matters most. If you want a clean vertical look that does not demand constant trimming, this cultivar is an easy, dependable choice.

Distinctive Features

This arborvitae grows in a tight, columnar to narrow pyramidal habit with layered, scale-like sprays that create a full, tidy silhouette. Foliage is typically dark green and is noted for strong winter appearance and good resistance to winter burn when planted in a suitable site. Growth is moderate and consistent, allowing it to fill in as a dense screen while still fitting neatly into narrower beds. Small cones may appear, but the real value is the refined shape and reliable evergreen coverage.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with the densest growth usually in brighter exposures.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and it adapts to many soils if drainage is reliable.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then provide deep watering during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
• Mature Size: Typically about 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use one plant as a tall evergreen focal point to add a clean vertical line and year-round structure in a narrow space.
• Screening: Plant in rows for a space-smart privacy screen that stays dense and upright with time.
• Hedge: Maintain as a narrow hedge for crisp boundaries along fences, driveways, and property edges.
• Foundation Planting: Place at corners or along long walls where you want height without crowding walkways and windows.
• Backdrop Planting: Use behind mixed borders to make flowers and lighter foliage colors stand out more.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune lightly in late spring to early summer if shaping is needed, and avoid cutting back into bare, leafless wood.
• Mulching: Mulch the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate temperature swings, keeping mulch a few inches off the trunk.
• Watering: Deeply water during heat and drought, especially in the first few seasons and in long hedge plantings.
• Fertilizing: Feed in spring only if growth is weak, using a slow-release evergreen fertilizer according to label directions.
• Winter Care: Reduce winter stress with good siting and consistent fall moisture, and brush off heavy, wet snow if it loads the branches.

Why Choose North Pole Arborvitae?

• Narrow Privacy: Provides strong screening height while staying tighter than many common arborvitae.
• Dark Green Color: Delivers a rich evergreen backdrop that keeps the landscape looking finished year-round.
• Winter Performance: Known for solid cold hardiness and good resistance to winter burn in many settings.
• Low Fuss Habit: Holds a tidy, upright form with minimal shaping needed.
• Deer Pressure Note: Deer resistance is not reliable, so protect plants where browsing is common.

If you need privacy but do not have room for a wide hedge, North Pole Arborvitae is a practical evergreen to build around. Give it sun for best density, steady moisture while it establishes, and decent drainage for long-term health. Used in rows, it creates a clean living wall that still feels natural, not stiff. With simple care and proper spacing, it becomes a dependable backbone plant that improves comfort and structure in the landscape.