Golden Globe Arborvitae

Using shrubs as a garden accent plant is something that people have been doing for centuries. Recognized for their wide choice of varieties, ability to adapt to varying climate conditions as well as for being easy to grow and maintain, shrubs bring more than being “just another plant” to the table. Shrubs provide shelter during less than pleasant weather and a place for small wild animals to frolic in relative safety. Beautifully colored butterflies and other insects are also attracting to the lofty compact Not only do they offer safety and entertainment to small animals; they also have a place in helping the environment. They filter out harmful pollutants in the air, produce oxygen and their sturdy root systems can help prevent soil erosion.

The White Cedar that the Golden Globe was cultivated from is found predominantly in northeastern America and various locations throughout Canada, but can also be found as far south as Tennessee and as far west as Minnesota. Its wide natural habitat ensures that its cultivated varieties are also hardy enough for many other locations throughout the United States.

The Golden Globe brings versatility, as well as an abundance of color and visual interest, to your outdoor space. Using it as an accent plant along walkways, as a foundation plant or as a low growing hedge is sure to bring out the plant’s true beauty while allowing it to be a prominent feature in your landscape design.

Growing Golden Globe Arborvitae Shrubs

Like many new varieties, the Golden Globe was cultivated to create a compact and practical shrub that incorporates all of the white cedar’s best features into a smaller and more manageable plant. This adorable little shrub only grows to about four feet high and four feet wide. However, it gets there fast, growing as much as eight inches in a year, so that a few seasons after planting it you will have a full-sized and fully mature shrub.

Appearance

The Golden Globe’s foliage is quite unique in the fact that the leaves are flat, soft and grow in fan-shaped sprays. New growth is a beautiful golden yellow color while the undergrowth is a bright green. These striking colors make the Golden Globe an excellent choice as an accent plant, and create a superb burst of color throughout the winter months. Mature plants produce small half-inch long cones that turn to a lush reddish-brown color as the autumn months approach. In the most optimal conditions this little bush can live well over 70 years and reach a maximum of eight feet. This is certainly a shrub that will enhance any garden or property for generations.

Hardiness

Gold Globe dwarf shrubs prefer sites in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 to 8; while it is better suited for the warmer end of this range the shrub can also thrive in northern locations, even in some parts of Alaska and Minnesota. It is important to note that this shrub can suffer damage from snow and ice if too much builds up on its branches. You will want to protect it from the worst of the winter weather. It really loves the humidity and enjoys regular rainfall as long as its location is well-drained. When being grown as a foundation plant you will want to ensure that the shrub is watered adequately during the hottest days.

Soil Conditions and Sun Exposure

By adding mulch to the base of this shrub, you can help the plant retain moisture which will prevent the roots from drying out. Golden Globe is highly adaptable and can be easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils. They also tolerate heavier clay soil better than most other shrubs of a similar shape and size. While the Golden Globe does tolerate some shade, it prefers to be displayed in all its glory where the sun can shine down on it for most of the day. The leaves soak up the rays which help the plant flourish. Coming into fall and winter, the bright green and golden yellow branches undergo a slight darkening to an almost bronze color. The color then reverts back to the lighter shades once spring comes again the following year.

Care and Maintenance

When it comes to ease of growing and maintenance the Golden Globe is a wonderfully simple plant to take care of. After planting, and during the shrub’s first growing season, you will want to ensure an adequate watering schedule, which will in turn ensure it establishes an extensive and deep root system.

If you are interested in pruning the plant to maintain a particular shape, the best time to do this is in the early spring before new growth begins to emerge. Prior to new growth the shrub will benefit greatly from a general purpose fertilizer being applied. Golden Globe is also very free from any major insect or disease issues. Bagworms and spider mites are occasional pests but early detection can reduce the risk of it becoming detrimental to the plant.