Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' – Western Red Cedar Hedging | Premium Evergreen
Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' – Western Red Cedar Hedging | Premium Evergreen
Premium Western Red Cedar Hedging for Year-Round Privacy
Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' is one of Britain's finest evergreen hedging choices, prized for its vigorous growth, rich emerald-green foliage, and exceptional screening performance. This superior cultivar of Western Red Cedar delivers a dense, aromatic hedge that maintains its deep colour throughout winter, making it ideal for creating elegant, fast-growing privacy boundaries. Available for sale in our nursery near Lancaster.
Key Features & Benefits
- Rapid growth: Achieves 40–60 cm of annual growth in optimal conditions
- Year-round colour: Lustrous deep green foliage that resists winter bronzing
- Dense screening: Naturally compact habit creates effective privacy and wind protection
- Aromatic foliage: Pleasant, fresh scent when brushed or trimmed
- Low maintenance: Requires just one or two trims per year to maintain shape
- Adaptable: Thrives in most soil types and tolerates exposed sites
Planting & Care
Plant Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' at 60–90 cm spacing for a dense hedge within 2–3 years. Prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Water regularly during establishment and mulch to retain moisture. Trim in late spring and again in late summer to encourage bushy growth and maintain your desired height.
Ideal For
Perfect for formal and informal hedging, boundary screening, windbreaks, and architectural garden features. Particularly suited to larger gardens and rural properties where fast establishment and year-round structure are essential.
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Planting Instructions
Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens' adapts to most soil types including clay and chalk, provided drainage is adequate. Space 60–90cm apart for a dense hedge. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
Water regularly during establishment and mulch to retain moisture. Trim once or twice annually in late spring and late summer to encourage bushy growth and maintain your desired height. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant.
Size & Specification
Supplied as a well-established container-grown plant in a nursery pot, ready for immediate planting. Suitable for hedging or as a standalone specimen.
Annual growth rate: 40–60cm in optimal conditions. Eventual height as an unclipped hedge or specimen: 10–20m+. Responds well to clipping and can be maintained at any desired height. Planting density: 60–90cm spacing for hedging.
Delivery & Dispatch
Dispatched in its nursery pot to protect the root system during transit. Carefully packaged to ensure safe arrival. We dispatch Monday to Wednesday to avoid weekend delays.
Delivered via a specialist plant courier. You will receive a dispatch notification with tracking details. Please ensure someone is available to receive the delivery, as plants should not be left in packaging for extended periods.
Wildlife & Ecological Notes
Thuja plicata provides dense year-round evergreen cover, making it an excellent nesting and roosting habitat for birds. Its thick foliage offers shelter for small mammals and invertebrates throughout the year.
As a long-lived conifer, it contributes lasting structural habitat value to the garden. Its aromatic foliage is naturally resistant to pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments and supporting a healthier garden ecosystem.