DeGroots Spire Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire'
DeGroots Spire Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire'
How are the heights measured?
All tree, and nothin' but the tree! We measure from the top of the soil to the top of the tree; the height of the container or the root system is never included in our measurements.
What is a gallon container?
Nursery containers come in a variety of different sizes, and old-school nursery slang has stuck. While the industry-standard terminology is to call the sizes "Gallon Containers", that doesn't exactly translate to the traditional liquid "gallon" size we think of. You'll find we carry young 1-gallons, up to more mature 7-gallons ranging anywhere from 6 inches to 6ft.
How does the delivery process work?
All of our orders ship via FedEx Ground! Once your order is placed online, our magic elves get right to work picking, staging, boxing and shipping your trees. Orders typically ship out within 2 business days. You will receive email notifications along the way on the progress of your order, as well as tracking information to track your plants all the way to their new home!
Why are some states excluded from shipping?
The short & sweet answer is: "United States Department of Agriculture Restrictions." Every state has their own unique USDA restrictions on which plants they allow to come into their state. While we wish we could serve everyone, it's for the safety of native species and helps prevent the spread of invasive disease & pests. We've gotta protect good ole' Mother Nature, after all.
About Me
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Striking evergreen specimens are the best way to add interest and variety to your garden. A strong vertical accent catches the eye and draws attention – but many become too large and fat over time to be ideal. DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae is different. Always neat and compact, with a slender narrow profile that sheds snow and ice, and elegant twisted foliage that make it very special, this tree is perfect for the coldest areas and fits well even into a narrow space or a small garden. Not only is it always fresh and green, it needs no clipping to stay that way, in fact it looks better the less you do to it – ideal for the busy gardener. It can also be used to create a unique and different unclipped hedge or screen, with its own special character you will love. Every year your DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae will look better and better, wherever you plant it.
- Beautiful evergreen upright specimen
- Elegant and unique twisted foliage
- Hardy to minus 50
- Perfect accent for small spaces
- No clipping needed even as a hedge or screen
Hardy in even the coldest parts of America, DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae should be planted in a sunny or partially shaded location in average soil. Like all arborvitae it benefits from a regular supply of water, but established plants will shrug-off normal summer dry periods. It is free of pests and diseases and needs no work to always look great in your garden. For the perfect evergreen specimen or low-care hedge, look no further.
- Plant Hardiness Zones 2-7
- Mature Width 4-5
- Mature Height 15-25
- Sun Needs Full Sun, Partial Sun
Evergreen trees are loved by everyone, and they are especially important in winter, bringing form and color to your garden when the trees are bare. There are many evergreens, but not all of them will grow in colder parts of the country, but one that will is the American arborvitae, or white cedar. This plant is widely used as hedges and specimens in cold areas, because it is more cold-hardy than just about any other evergreen, thriving even in the bitter colds of Canada, but still growing happily in all areas outside the South, Florida, and California.
However, there is more to gardening than planting hedges, and another use for evergreens is as interesting specimens around the house or garden. This is where DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae stands out as a ‘must have’ plant. It grows steadily into an upright column, with attractive twisted branches that give it an elegant look and set it apart from other upright arborvitae with more bland and boring outlines.
This is the perfect plant for a feature in a narrow space, and it is the ideal specimen for a small garden, or to create a narrow hedge that needs little or no trimming. It will grow well in full sun or partial shade, and with its narrow, upright outline it sheds snow and ice without breaking, so it will do well even in exposed areas. For an attractive tree of similar form in hot areas, consider choosing the Italian Cypress.
About DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a small tree growing to perhaps 60 feet, which is native to south-eastern Canada and the north-eastern USA. It has soft, scale-like leaves pressed on the stems which in turn are arranged in sprays. Wild trees have an open habit, but most garden varieties have been selected to be denser, either upright or rounded. There are several upright varieties, but ‘DeGroot’s Spire’ is the pick of them, because it has elegant twisted branches, that give an interesting textural outline to the tree, making a real feature in your garden.
Growth Rate
It will grow 6 inches or more a year to reach perhaps 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide in 20 years, but like all evergreens it will continue to grow as long as it lives, and become a more striking and elegant specimen every year. The exact origin of this outstanding variety seems to have been lost.
Planting Your DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae
Plant your DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae in a sunny or partially shaded spot, in average to moist soil. Arborvitae do best in soil that is rich and moist, but once established this tree will handle normal summer dry periods with no problem. There are no significant pests or diseases, but deer will eat the foliage in winter if they can. For a hedge, plant 18 to 24 inches apart in a row and water well for the first summer or two.
Using DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae as a Hedge
The great thing about using DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae for a hedge is that little or no trimming is needed, as the growth is so compact. For low-maintenance that takes some beating and you will always have a neat hedge with an interesting texture. It is also possible to trim the plants if desired for an even neater profile. Trim from late spring to early fall, as winter damage can occur on newly-trimmed hedges, especially in colder areas.
Buying DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae at The Tree Center
Whether you are looking for an outstanding but easy to grow specimen evergreen for a narrow spot, or want to create a low maintenance hedge or screen, DeGroot’s Spire Arborvitae is the #1 pick of hardy evergreens. There are many kinds of arborvitae, but our plants are taken from plants derived from the original form, so they are very superior to cheaper seedling plants that will be completely different, much larger and looser in form, and not suitable at all for use as a striking specimen bush. This popular variety is always in high demand, so order now to avoid the disappointment of it being sold out.
