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Thuja Green Giant
Thuja Green Giant
Thuja Green Giant Planting Guide Simply Trees
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Privacy Tree

Thuja Green Giant

4.7/5 64 reviews
Will it grow where you live?

Zones 5-8

Size: 1-2 ft
Quantity: Single
$20 $30

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1-year guaranteeShips in 1–5 daysReal plant experts

From our farm to your front door

  • Shipped in its nursery pot, so the roots stay undisturbed
  • Soil secured so it stays put in transit
  • Packed so the plant stays steady on the way to you

At a glance

Leaves
Evergreen: keeps its leaves all year
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Water
When the top 2" of soil is dry
Growth & size
Very fast growth rate, adding about 3 ft a year; mature height of 40-60 feet and width of 12-20 feet.
Botanical name
Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant'
Hardiness
Zones 5-8
Tolerates
Cold hardyHeat tolerantHumidity tolerantWind tolerant
USDA zone map for Thuja Green Giant

Where it grows in the groundShaded areas are the zones where it can be planted outdoors.

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What customers are saying

4.7
out of 5 · 64 verified reviews

Why customers love it

Healthy, well-rooted plants

Hand-selected and shipped in its nursery pot.

Delivered to your door

Skip the nursery trip. Very little car Tetris required.

Goodbye, noisy neighbors

A living screen that blocks the view, softens the sound and looks better than a fence.

1-year guarantee

If something goes wrong, we'll help make it right.

Care made simple

Plant it right once and it does the rest.

Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

Pick the spot before you dig.

Water
When the top 2" of soil is dry

Water slowly and deeply. Check more often in its first summer.

Grows in
Zones 5-8

Enter your ZIP above to check your zone.

Your first year together

  1. 1Day 1

    Plant it, then water slowly until the whole root ball is soaked.

  2. 2First few weeks

    Keep the soil evenly moist while new roots settle in.

  3. 3First summer

    Water deeply during hot, dry spells.

  4. 4Next spring

    New growth starts. Feed as it wakes up.

Planting instructions
Plant Thuja Green Giant in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Dig a hole approximately twice as wide as the rootball and no deeper than the rootball itself. Position the top of the rootball level with or slightly above the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil, water deeply after planting, and apply mulch around the base while keeping mulch several inches away from the trunk.
Watering & sunlight
Watering needs are never one-size-fits-all. Weather, soil type, drainage, plant size, and planting time all affect how quickly a plant dries out.

Use a slow-running hose, soaker hose, or drip system to water the root ball and surrounding root zone thoroughly. Allow the water to penetrate deeply (not just wet the top few inches of soil), and avoid frequent, shallow watering.

Before watering again, check the soil 3–4 inches deep near the root ball. If it feels dry, repeat this deep-watering process. If it feels moist or soggy, wait and check again in 1–2 days. Check the soil of newly planted trees and shrubs several times per week, especially during hot, dry, or windy weather.

Irrigation run times will vary based on flow rate, soil, and system setup.

Need help? Contact our plant experts for watering guidance tailored to your plant and growing conditions.

Thuja Green Giant grows best in full sun to partial shade.When planted in full sun they will develop the fastest growth and densest foliage.
Care guide

PRUNING:
Thuja Green Giant requires very little pruning. If needed, prune in early spring to shape the tree or remove any damaged branches.

FERTILIZING:
Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support healthy, consistent growth. Avoid fertilizing for the first 2–3 months after delivery to allow the plant to adjust and establish.

WINTER PROTECTION:
Thuja Green Giant is winter-hardy in its growing zones. Young plants may benefit from mulch around the base to protect roots during severe cold, especially in colder regions.

What does "Jumbo" mean?

Our Jumbo Thuja Green Giant are grown in 10-gallon containers and are more mature and fuller than regular sizes. Compared to standard options, Jumbo Thuja have an overall wider base, denser foliage, a thicker trunk (caliper), and a more developed root system, giving them a stronger, more established presence at planting time.

Regular sizes are grown in 1-quart (1–2 ft), 2-gallon, or 5-gallon containers. These are healthy, well-rooted trees, but they are younger and narrower than Jumbo sizes and will take more time to fill out.

While height may overlap between regular and Jumbo options, the difference is in container size, fullness, base width, and overall maturity. Jumbo Thuja Green Giant are a great choice if you want a more substantial tree right away or faster visual impact when planting for privacy.

Shipping:
Jumbo Thuja Green Giant are shipped burlapped, with the rootball carefully wrapped and secured with a zip tie to protect the roots and keep the tree stable during transit.

Regular sizes are shipped in their nursery pots, with the rootball wrapped in a protective plastic liner and secured with a zip tie to keep soil contained, the tree stable, and the box clean during shipping.

Shipping & what's inside

Your plant ships in its nursery pot with the soil secured, packed so it stays steady on the way to you.

1-year guarantee

Every plant is covered by our 1-year guarantee. If something goes wrong, contact our team and we'll walk you through it.

Answered by Simply Trees plant experts
How big does Thuja Green Giant get?
Thuja Green Giant typically grows 40–60 feet tall and 12–20 feet wide at maturity, forming a dense pyramidal evergreen ideal for privacy screens and windbreaks.
How fast does Thuja Green Giant grow?
Thuja Green Giant is one of the fastest-growing evergreen privacy trees available, typically growing about 3 feet per year under favorable growing conditions.
Where is the best place to plant Thuja Green Giant?
Thuja Green Giant grows best in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. It is commonly planted along property lines, fences, driveways, and landscape borders where homeowners want a fast-growing evergreen privacy screen.
How far apart should I plant Thuja Green Giant for privacy?
For a dense privacy screen, plant Thuja Green Giants approximately 5–8 feet apart, depending on how quickly you want the trees to fill in. Wider spacing creates a more natural appearance while allowing each tree additional room to mature.
How long does it take Thuja Green Giant to create a privacy screen?
Thanks to its rapid growth rate of about 3 feet per year under ideal conditions, Thuja Green Giant can begin providing meaningful privacy within just a few growing seasons. The exact timeline depends on the size of the trees when planted, spacing, climate, and growing conditions.
When is the best time to plant Thuja Green Giant?
The best time to plant Thuja Green Giant is early spring or early fall, when temperatures are cooler and the tree can establish its root system before the stress of summer heat or winter cold. These seasons typically provide the ideal combination of moderate temperatures and consistent soil moisture for healthy root growth.
Do Thuja Green Giants need fertilizer?
Most Thuja Green Giants grow well without regular fertilizing, especially when planted in healthy soil. If desired, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring to encourage healthy growth. Avoid fertilizing for the first 2–3 months after planting to allow the tree to establish.
Does Thuja Green Giant grow well in clay soil?
Yes. Thuja Green Giant adapts well to many soil types, including clay, as long as the soil drains reasonably well. Avoid planting in areas where water remains standing for extended periods, as consistently saturated soil can lead to root problems.
What makes Thuja Green Giant different from Emerald Green Arborvitae?
Thuja Green Giant grows much faster and significantly larger than Emerald Green Arborvitae, making it a better choice for homeowners who want to create a tall privacy screen in a shorter amount of time. Emerald Green Arborvitae remains much narrower and more compact, making it better suited for smaller landscapes where space is limited.
Why do homeowners love Thuja Green Giant?
Homeowners love Thuja Green Giant for its incredibly fast growth, dense evergreen foliage, low-maintenance care, and ability to quickly create a beautiful natural privacy screen. Its adaptability, year-round color, and resistance to many common pests and diseases have made it one of the most popular privacy trees in the United States.
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