The ‘Elegantissima’ Arborvitae, a cultivar of Thuja occidentalis, is a popular evergreen known for its elegant, narrow, and dense pyramidal form. It provides year-round visual interest with distinctive, scale-like foliage featuring bright, golden-yellow tips. The inner foliage maintains a deep green color, creating a striking contrast. In late fall and winter, the golden tips often deepen to a bronze hue, offering seasonal variation. Its naturally tidy, upright structure makes it an excellent choice for formal hedges, privacy screens, or vertical accents in mixed borders.
Choosing the Right Location and Planting
Selecting the proper site ensures the long-term health and vibrant color of your ‘Elegantissima’ Arborvitae. This cultivar performs best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, though it tolerates partial shade. Planting in too much shade will cause the foliage to thin and the golden tips to lose their bright coloration. The ideal soil should be moist, consistently well-drained, and have a slightly acidic to neutral pH range.
When preparing to plant, dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. This width allows roots to spread easily into the surrounding soil, promoting faster establishment. Gently loosen any tightly packed roots on the exterior of the root ball before placing the plant. The top edge of the root ball must sit level with the surrounding grade to prevent water pooling at the trunk, which can cause decay.
Backfill the hole with the original soil, tamping gently to remove air pockets, and water deeply once the hole is half-filled. For a dense screen, space plants 3 to 4 feet apart, allowing for their mature 4 to 6-foot spread. Apply a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, over the root zone to conserve moisture. Ensure the mulch is kept several inches back from the trunk flare.
Essential Maintenance Practices
Consistent water management is necessary, especially during the first two growing seasons while the plant establishes its root system. Newly planted arborvitae require deep, regular watering to keep the soil uniformly moist, but not soggy. Check the soil a few inches below the surface; if it feels dry, a thorough soaking is needed. Established plants develop some drought tolerance, but deep watering is still required during extended dry periods.
Fertilization is not always necessary, as this evergreen is generally low-maintenance. If you observe sluggish growth or pale foliage, apply a slow-release, balanced evergreen fertilizer once in early spring. Young plants may benefit from a fertilizer with a slightly higher phosphorus (P) content to encourage strong root development. Avoid fertilizing late in the growing season, as this stimulates tender new growth vulnerable to winter frost damage.
Pruning should be conservative, primarily to maintain the plant’s naturally narrow and pyramidal shape. The best time for light shearing is in late spring or early summer after the initial flush of new growth. Only cut into the green, leafy material. Like most arborvitae, the ‘Elegantissima’ cultivar will not regenerate new foliage from bare, old wood. Regular, light pruning is preferable to severe cutbacks, which can leave permanent brown patches.
Managing Pests and Environmental Stress
While generally resilient, the ‘Elegantissima’ Arborvitae can be susceptible to a few specific pests. Bagworms are a common threat; the larvae construct spindle-shaped bags from the plant’s needles. These bags are often difficult to spot until the foliage begins to brown. Small infestations can be controlled by hand-picking the bags off the branches before the eggs hatch in late spring.
Spider Mites
Another frequent pest is the spider mite, an arachnid that feeds on the cell contents of the needles. This feeding leads to a stippled or bronzed appearance. Infestations are often indicated by fine, silken webbing visible among the foliage, and they thrive in hot, dry conditions. Treatment involves applying a horticultural oil or specialized miticide, which can be reapplied as needed to control the population.
Winter Stress and Desiccation
Environmental stress, particularly from winter conditions, can cause winter burn or desiccation. This occurs when winter sun and wind cause the foliage to transpire moisture faster than the frozen ground can replenish it. This results in brown or copper-colored tips. To mitigate this, ensure the plant is deeply watered throughout the late fall and during any winter thaws when temperatures are above 40°F. In exposed locations, applying an anti-desiccant spray in late fall or wrapping the plant in burlap provides a physical barrier against drying winds.