Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe' (Golden Globe White Cedar )


Michael's Opinion

A very outstanding dwarf evergreen due to its year round colour interest, dense form and interesting bark. The ‘Golden Globe’ cultivar also can be maintained quite easily and looks great when used an accent plant in a home garden or as a specimen plant. This plant foliage may cause slight alllergy irritation if in direct contact with skin; be aware when you are to perform maintenance on or around this plant.

Botanical Information

FamilyCupressaceae
GenusThuja
Speciesoccidentalis
Cultivar'Golden Globe'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
ReferencesDirr, Micheal. Manual of Wood Landscape Plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing, 2009.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone2 – 8
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone0a - 8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH4 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-48 - (-7)
Temperature (°F)-50 - 20
Height1 – 2 m
Spread0.5 – 1.5 m
GrowthSlow

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA dense, multi-stemmed, dwarf, yellow-golden evergreen with uniform, broad, 'globe-like' growth.
ID CharacteristicIdentified by its golden-yellow, dense, globe shaped form.
ShapeDwarf, dense, multi-stemmed, naturally rounded form even without pruning.
LandscapeLooks great when used in the garden, as an accent plant, in hedges/screening, and as mass planting. With its dense, globe-shape growth habit, low maintenance and beautiful year round interest, this specific specimen is certainly an ideal plant to add value to a landscape.
PropagationCuttings planted in well drained soil with bottom heat. Rooting time 60-150 days and it will take 1-2 years to produce a 3 litre plant.
CultivationPrefers full sun or partial shade as well as average to moist, well drained soil conditions with a 4.5-8 pH level. This specimen can not be left to dry out, but will not tolerate wet feet either. Golden Globe's new growth should be pruned in the early spring to reduce the incidence of leaf burn. After planted it would be beneficial to add a layer of mulch to promote good root growth. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.
PestsNo serious diseases, although bagworms and spider mites may be found. Note that arborvitae plants are susceptible to tip blight.
Notable SpecimensWhistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario, Canada.The Gardens of Fanshawe College (Conifer Garden), London, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark, although well hidden by the dense foliage, is a red-brown in colour.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionBright brown buds.
Leaf DescriptionLeathery, fine, scaled leaves. The foliage, as is the case with most arborvitae when crushed, may cause an allergic skin irritation in some individuals.
Colour DescriptionFeatures showy gold-green foliage all season, yellow-gold colour in spring, harvest gold colour in autumn. In winter bronze-honey orange colour may be present.
Texture DescriptionA fine textured plant but with a medium-dense regular form.

Photographs