Southern Living? Highlights? Arborvitae Thuja - Thuja

Southern Living® Highlights™ Arborvitae (Thuja)

This stunning evergreen conifer features vibrant golden-yellow foliage that brings year-round warmth to any landscape. Unlike many colorful conifers that fade as temperatures drop, Highlights™ maintains its radiant hue throughout the seasons, making it an ideal choice when you want to buy Southern Living® Highlights™ Arborvitae online. Its narrow, columnar silhouette and aromatic needles deliver both visual appeal and durability in challenging climates.

Landscaping Uses

This tree's compact width makes it perfect for narrow spaces, mixed perennial beds, and screening applications where traditional evergreens would consume too much room. Plant in groups to create natural windbreaks or privacy walls, or showcase it as a specimen accent in front-facing borders. Its vertical form also adapts beautifully to container gardening, allowing you to bring golden color to patios and entryways.

Specifications

Height: 20 feet at maturity
Width: 4 feet at maturity
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun: Full sun (tolerates partial afternoon shade)
Water: Regular watering first month, then moderate moisture
Soil: Well-draining, standard garden soil
USDA Zones: 4–8

Why Homeowners Love It

• Golden-yellow color never fades to green, providing consistent landscape interest year-round
• Heat and humidity tolerant with foliage that resists summer scorch
• Naturally pyramidal shape requires minimal to no pruning for maintenance
• Narrow footprint fits tight spaces where wider trees won't work

Planting & Care

Choose a location with full sun exposure and space trees 4 to 6 feet apart depending on your density goals. Dig a hole matching the depth of the root ball but twice as wide, then backfill with unamended native soil and apply a 3-inch mulch layer extending 3 feet outward. Water new plantings weekly or twice weekly for the first month by running a hose around the base for 20 seconds, then reduce to weekly watering unless conditions turn hot and dry. Fertilize in spring with an all-purpose evergreen formula to support healthy growth. This low-maintenance tree thrives without pruning, though you may remove dead branches or create a formal hedge by trimming so the base remains wider than the top.