Thuja Virginian™ (Baby Giant Thuja)

Thuja Virginian™ (Baby Giant Thuja) – Dense, Cold-Hardy & Built for Privacy

If you want a privacy screen that’s as tough as it is beautiful, the Thuja Virginian™ — commonly known as Baby Giant Thuja — is one of the best arborvitae varieties you can plant. A natural hybrid of Eastern White Cedar and Giant Arborvitae, Thuja Virginian™ combines the cold hardiness of northern arborvitae with the lush, dense foliage and vigorous growth of its Giant parent — delivering a fast-growing, year-round privacy screen that thrives from Zone 4 all the way to Zone 8.

Rich green, feathery foliage. Naturally columnar form. Exceptional cold hardiness. Available from 1–6 ft. sizes, with money-saving 10-Packs for complete privacy hedgerows at every scale.

Why You’ll Love Thuja Virginian™

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: Hardy to Zone 4 — significantly more cold-tolerant than Leyland Cypress and many other privacy screen trees, making it the top choice for northern gardens
• Fast-Growing: 2–3 ft. of growth per year under good conditions — a 2–3 ft. tree can reach 12–15 ft. within 4–5 years
• Dense, Year-Round Privacy: Thick, overlapping evergreen foliage provides effective screening 365 days a year — no bare winter gaps
• Naturally Columnar Form: Tight, upright growth habit requires no shearing to maintain — a naturally elegant, space-efficient silhouette
• Rich Green Foliage: Vibrant, feathery green needles that hold their color through winter — no bronzing or browning in cold weather
• Deer Resistant: More resistant to deer browsing than many arborvitae varieties — an important advantage in suburban and rural landscapes
• Low Maintenance: Once established, requires minimal care — no regular pruning, no special feeding, no fuss
• Long-Lived: A well-sited Thuja Virginian™ can provide decades of reliable screening and beauty

Planning Your Privacy Screen – Spacing & 10-Pack Guide

For a dense, continuous privacy screen, plant Thuja Virginian™ trees 4–6 feet apart. At this spacing, canopies will merge within 3–4 years to form a seamless green wall. A 10-Pack covers approximately 40–60 linear feet of screening.

• 2–3 ft. 10-Pack ($699.95): Best value for patient growers — ~$70/tree. Full screening in 4–5 years
• 3–4 ft. 10-Pack ($1,199.95): Great head start — ~$120/tree. Full screening in 3–4 years
• 4–5 ft. 10-Pack ($1,199.95): Immediate visual impact — ~$120/tree. Effective screening from near day one

Growing Zones & Care Guide

• USDA Hardiness Zones: Zones 4–8. Thuja Virginian™ is one of the most cold-hardy fast-growing privacy screen trees available — an excellent choice for northern gardens where Leyland Cypress and other warm-climate evergreens are not reliably hardy.
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade. Full sun (6+ hours daily) produces the densest growth and best screening. Tolerates partial shade but with reduced density and growth rate.
• Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, moderately drought-tolerant. Deep, infrequent watering is preferred over frequent shallow watering.
• Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soils — clay, loam, and sandy soils are all tolerated. Prefers moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.5). Avoid waterlogged or extremely dry sites.
• Spacing: Plant 4–6 ft. apart for a privacy hedge. For a windbreak or specimen planting, 8–10 ft. spacing allows trees to develop their full natural form.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring during the first 2–3 years to support rapid establishment. Established trees in average soils typically need little to no fertilization.
• Pruning: Minimal pruning needed — the naturally columnar form is self-maintaining. If desired, lightly tip-prune in late spring after new growth hardens to encourage additional density. Avoid cutting back into bare interior wood.
• Winter Color: Thuja Virginian™ holds its rich green color through winter without the bronzing or yellowing that affects some arborvitae varieties — a key advantage for year-round screening.
• Growth Rate: 2–3 ft. per year under good conditions. Mature height typically 20–30 ft. with a spread of 6–8 ft. — a naturally narrow, space-efficient form.

Want an Even Faster-Growing Privacy Screen?

For maximum speed, our Leyland Cypress Tree grows 3–4 ft. per year — the fastest-growing privacy screen tree available. Best suited to Zones 6–10, Leyland Cypress is an excellent complement or alternative to Thuja Virginian™ in warmer climates. Many landscapers plant both for a mixed, more disease-resilient hedgerow.

Cold-hardy to Zone 4, deer resistant, and beautifully dense year-round — the Thuja Virginian™ is the premier privacy screen arborvitae for northern and mid-Atlantic gardens.