American Pillar Arborvitae - Thuja

'American Pillar' arborvitae  one of the most impressive combinations of speed and restraint in the evergreen screening market. Growing a strictly columnar form that reaches 20 to 30 feet tall while maintaining a remarkably slim 3- to 4-foot spread, and it does so in a hurry — adding up to 3 feet of height per year once established. The foliage grows dense creating a lush, rich green wall of soft-textured sprays that hold their color year-round without the winter bronzing common in many arborvitae selections. The trunk remains strictly vertical and almost always singular, lending the plant a clean architectural profile that requires little to no corrective pruning. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, 'American Pillar' performs across a remarkably wide geographic range, tolerating both northern cold and southern heat and humidity with equal composure. Plant it in full sun to part sun in moist, well-drained soil for best results, spacing trees just 2.5 to 3 feet apart on center for a seamless privacy hedge or 3 to 4 feet for a slightly more open screen. The cultivar adapts well to varied soil types including alkaline and clay soils, and once established, it demonstrates solid drought tolerance. Beyond privacy screening, 'American Pillar' excels as a windbreak, sound buffer, specimen accent, and foundation planting, and its natural deer resistance gives it a notable edge over popular selections like 'Smaragd' (Emerald Green). As a native Thuja occidentalis selection, it also provides valuable wildlife habitat, offering nesting sites and year-round cover for songbirds.