• Photo of Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' (Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist's)

Plant Profile: Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

Names

American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Eastern white cedar, Northern white cedar, Sunkist Arborvitae

  • Photo of Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' (Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist's)

Phonetic Spelling:THU-ya ock-sih-den-TAH-liss

Genus:Thuja

Species:occidentalis

Family:Cupressaceae

This arborvitae features a robust, broad, pyramidal shape and is versatile enough to thrive in various growing conditions, although it thrives best in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. In regions where afternoon temperatures soar, providing some shade may be beneficial. However, placing this plant in complete shade can lead to reduced foliage. Additionally, it requires shelter from strong winds.

The 'Sunkist' variety showcases vibrant lemon-yellow leaves in the spring, which transition to a more orange-yellow hue during the winter months.

In terms of pests and diseases, this plant is often susceptible to damage from deer. It may also face challenges from leaf blight, leaf miners, cankers, and bagworms.

For further details on Thuja occidentalis, please refer to additional resources.

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Feature Summary

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Image Gallery

Tags

#gold
#evergreen
#winter interest
#air pollution tolerant
#cpp
#evergreen shrub
#clay soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Feature Summary

Bark
Bark on mature branches and trunks will exfoliate.
Light Brown
Red/Burgundy
Stem
Typically single-trunked.
Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
3a
3b
Landscape
Winter Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Barrier
Patio
Walkways
Lawn
Slope/Bank
Coastal

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Bark

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Bark Description

Bark on mature branches and trunks will exfoliate.

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Bark Color

grass
Light Brown
grass
Red/Burgundy

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Stem

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Stem Description

Typically single-trunked.

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Attributes

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Whole Plant Traits

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Cultural Conditions

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Leaves

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist' Landscape

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland