Nigra' American arborvitae

Discover the dark elegance and columnar form of the *Thuja occidentalis 'Nigra'*, a highly prized evergreen conifer with an intense dark green colour that retains its hue even in winter. This Eastern White Cedar cultivar is ideal for creating hedges, screens, or as a vertical accent in your landscape design. It's also recognized for its resistance to urban pollution and provides valuable shelter for birds.

Characteristics

• Foliage : The foliage of the *Thuja occidentalis 'Nigra'* consists of small, scale-like needles in a rich, deep dark green. Unlike some other cedar varieties, 'Nigra' retains its vibrant green colour throughout the year, even during the winter months.
• Light : Prefers full sun to partial shade. Full sun exposure will promote dense growth and optimal colour. It tolerates light shade, but foliage density may decrease in shady conditions.
• Habit : Its habit is narrowly upright and columnar, forming an elegant and vertical silhouette in the landscape. It typically grows with a single main trunk.
• Growth : Its growth rate is considered slow to moderate, reaching a mature height of 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet) and a spread of 1.5 to 3 meters (5 to 10 feet).
• Humidity : Prefers average to moist, well-drained soil. It is not tolerant of prolonged dry conditions.
• Soil : Adapts to a wide range of soil types but prefers moist, neutral to alkaline, well-drained loams. Tolerates clay soils.
• Temperature : It is very hardy and tolerates Quebec winters well (Hardiness Zone 3).
• Watering : Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to ensure good growth. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely.

Uses

• Types of Use : Ideal for creating dense and private hedges, privacy screens, as a vertical accent in gardens, or planted as a specimen. It is also suitable for building foundations.
• Decorative Advantages : Its intense dark green colour and columnar form add timeless structure and elegance to the landscape, even in winter. It attracts birds.

Care

• Fertilization : A light fertilization in the spring with a balanced conifer fertilizer can promote healthy growth. Avoid over-fertilizing.
• Pruning : Tolerates pruning well, which is essential for maintaining the shape of hedges and screens. Pruning should ideally be done on new growth around June, trimming only the current season's new growth.
• Planting :
  • Distance : For a hedge, space plants 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 feet) apart. For an isolated specimen, allow sufficient space for its mature growth.
  • Depth : Plant at the same depth as the soil level in the original container.
  • Period : Spring or fall are the best times for planting, when the soil is cool and moist.