ornamental tree
Green Giant arborvitae
Green Giant arborvitae is an ornamental tree noted for rapid-growth screening evergreen and deer-resistant. It grows in USDA zones 5a-8a and prefers full sun, part sun, loam and clay soils, and medium water. Its main garden feature is fast-growing evergreen foliage year-round. It is mainly used for privacy screening and curb-appeal plantings.
Fit and caveats
Green Giant arborvitae is a screening or structure plant, not a set-and-forget wall. It fits best where the mature height and width are allowed for from day one, the soil drains well, and deer or winter exposure are accounted for before planting.
Best fit
- ZIPs in zones 5a through 8a where full sun to part shade and loam or clay that does not stay saturated are realistic.
- Screens, windbreaks, property edges, and foundation plantings with enough room for mature spread.
- Gardeners willing to water deeply through establishment instead of relying on light surface irrigation.
Use caution
- Tight spacing creates long-term thinning, disease, and dieback problems.
- Deer browsing, reflected heat, road salt, and saturated soil can undo a good planting quickly.
- Do not assume a privacy plant stays small because it looked narrow in the nursery pot.
Regional notes
- In humid regions, leave air movement between plants instead of shearing them into a dense green wall.
- In cold or windy sites, avoid exposed corners unless the plant is known to tolerate winter burn.
- Use the ZIP match as a first pass, then check local extension notes for disease, deer, and invasive-risk issues.
Comparison note: Compared with mixed screening, a single-species row of Green Giant arborvitae is simpler but riskier. A mixed evergreen and deciduous screen usually handles pests, storms, and losses better over time.
Photos
Photos show a representative plant in the garden. Fruit color, size, and growth habit can vary by cultivar, season, nursery stock, and site.
Photo sources: File:Cedar_Needles.JPG: Nomadluap derivative work: MPF ( talk ) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Garden use
- Seasonal value
- fast-growing evergreen foliage year-round
- First effect
- 2-5 yrs
- Garden use
- Privacy & screening, Curb appeal & color
- Notable traits
- rapid-growth screening evergreen, deer-resistant
Spacing, yield, and timing
How far apart should you plant Green Giant arborvitae?
Plant Green Giant arborvitae at 6-12 ft apart. Adjust this starting point for trellises, hedges, rootstock, containers, pruning style, or local extension guidance.
How much does Green Giant arborvitae produce?
Green Giant arborvitae output is modeled as 52 weeks of evergreen screen/year. Treat that as a planning range, because weather, soil, watering, pruning, pests, and local pressure can change the real result.
How long does Green Giant arborvitae take to produce?
Green Giant arborvitae usually reaches first useful harvest or display in 2-5 yrs under suitable conditions.
How do you grow Green Giant arborvitae?
Grow Green Giant arborvitae in USDA zones 5a-8a with full, partial light, loam, clay soil, and medium water. Use 6-12 ft apart for layout planning. Match the plant to drainage, heat, chill, and pest pressure before scaling up.
Can Green Giant arborvitae grow in a container?
Green Giant arborvitae can start with a container of about 45+ gal (in-ground preferred). Larger containers usually buffer heat and moisture swings better than the minimum.
- Full output
- 5-10 yrs
- Planting depth
- Keep the root flare at soil level; graft unions stay above grade.
- Productive life
- 20-80 yrs
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Data quality
- Medium profile, No pound-yield source
Yield varies most with climate, soil, rootstock, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife.
Planting, care, and risk checks
Checklist
8 itemsAffiliate links may earn a commission.
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Tree trunk guard
Protection / After plantingProtect young trunks from mower damage, sunscald, rabbits, and rubbing injury.
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Digging spade or shovel
Tools / Planting dayOpen planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.
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Tree stake kit
Support / Planting dayStabilize newly planted trees only where wind, slope, or root-ball movement makes support necessary.
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Organic mulch
Soil / After plantingHold soil moisture, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and protect shallow roots.
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Finished compost
Soil / Bed prepImprove bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
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Loppers or pruning saw
Maintenance / First dormant seasonHandle woody stems and branches too large for hand pruners.
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Soft plant ties or clips
Support / As neededFasten stems to stakes, cages, trellises, or young-tree supports without girdling growth.
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Bypass pruners
Maintenance / First seasonMake clean cuts for harvesting, deadheading, shaping, and light pruning.
Planting strategy
- Planting depth: Keep the root flare at soil level; graft unions stay above grade.
- Container minimum: 45+ gal (in-ground preferred). Large trees can be started in containers but are not practical long-term patio crops.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- For screening, repeat compatible plants and confirm mature spacing before buying.
Risk factors
- Deer pressure: Not rated. No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
- Black walnut: Not rated. No black-walnut cue is assigned yet; verify placement if planting inside a walnut root zone.
- Match the site first: full, partial light, loam, clay soil, and medium water.
- Use 6-12 ft apart as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 30-50 ft H x 10-18 ft W.
- For screens and hedges, confirm mature size and spacing with the nursery label or local extension guidance.
- Local drainage, pests, chill hours, wildlife pressure, and microclimates can change the result.
Related planning guides
Comparable plants
Sources and methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: NC State Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxMissouri Botanical Garden Plant FinderUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables
Editorial sources: NC State Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxUniversity of Minnesota Extension: Trees and ShrubsThe Morton Arboretum: Trees and Plants
Supplier search: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.