The ‘Teddy’ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Teddy’) is a dwarf evergreen cultivar that offers year-round structure and texture to home gardens. Belonging to the family Cupressaceae, this slow-growing conifer is valued for its compact, naturally refined shape and generally undemanding nature. Its popularity stems from its ability to provide the classic, dense green of an arborvitae without requiring extensive space or frequent shearing.
Unique Characteristics and Growth Habit
This cultivar is distinguished by its unique foliage, which consists of soft, juvenile needles rather than the flattened, scale-like sprays common to mature arborvitae. The fine, thread-like texture gives the plant a plush, mossy appearance, earning it the ‘Teddy’ moniker. The dense foliage maintains a lush, blue-green or emerald-green hue throughout the warmer growing season.
The plant naturally forms an extremely compact, rounded globe or egg shape. It is a true miniature, typically reaching only 1 to 2 feet in height and width. This diminutive stature is achieved through a very slow growth rate, often adding only about two inches of new growth per year. The deep green coloration undergoes a predictable seasonal shift, developing a coppery-bronze or brownish tint in late autumn that persists through the winter months.
Optimal Site Selection and Initial Planting
Selecting the proper location is key to establishing a healthy ‘Teddy’ Arborvitae. A site that receives full sun encourages the densest, most attractive foliage, though the plant can tolerate light or partial shade, especially in hotter climates where afternoon protection is beneficial. The root system requires consistently moist, well-draining soil to thrive and avoid root rot, which means heavy, perpetually wet clay is unsuitable. The ideal soil composition is slightly acidic to neutral pH, though the plant is adaptable to a variety of soil types if drainage is adequate.
To prepare the planting site, dig the hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. This width provides loose soil for new roots to expand. Gently loosen the root ball by hand to encourage roots to grow outward into the surrounding native soil. Set the plant so the top of the root ball is level with, or slightly higher than, the surrounding soil line to accommodate settling. Backfill the hole using a mixture of native soil and organic amendments, such as compost (about 70% soil to 30% amendment). After backfilling, water deeply to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets, ensuring thorough root-to-soil contact.
Year-Round Maintenance and Watering Strategies
Maintaining consistent soil moisture is important for the ‘Teddy’ Arborvitae, especially during its first year of establishment and periods of dry weather. The plant requires regular watering to keep the root zone moist but must not sit in saturated soil. Established plants benefit from deep watering, where the soil is soaked thoroughly and allowed to dry slightly before the next application.
A final, deep watering in late fall before the ground freezes is helpful for evergreens. This practice ensures the foliage and roots are hydrated to withstand the drying effects of winter winds and frozen soil, which cause winter burn. Applying a two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch helps conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and improve soil structure, provided the mulch is kept a few inches away from the trunk.
The naturally compact and dense habit of this cultivar means pruning is rarely necessary to maintain its shape. If shaping is desired, limit it to very light trimming of the current season’s new growth in late winter or early spring. In locations exposed to harsh winds, winter protection is recommended to prevent moisture loss. This can involve applying an anti-desiccant spray in late fall or lightly wrapping the shrub in burlap to shield it from drying winter elements.
Landscape Placement and Design Uses
The diminutive size and rounded form of the ‘Teddy’ Arborvitae make it ideal for landscape applications where space is limited. Its fine texture creates a soft contrast against plants with coarser leaves or brighter flower colors. It performs well as a container specimen, providing year-round structure for patios, decks, or entryway accents.
In the garden, it is an excellent choice for rock gardens, where its slow growth rate complements the scale of alpine plants and stone features. The tight, globe shape also works effectively as a living edge along walkways or in the foreground of foundation plantings. Planting several in a mass provides a low, uniform texture that can substitute for traditional boxwood hedges where a small, formal border is desired.