Thuja Green Giant

The fastest, most reliable privacy screen you can plant — a dense wall of rich green that can add 3 feet or more a year.

Thuja Green Giant is the gold standard for fast privacy. It carries soft, scale-like sprays of deep green foliage that hold their color through every season, growing in a tidy pyramidal habit with a strong central leader. Maturing around 30 to 50 ft. tall and roughly 30 ft. wide, it fills in quickly to create a tall living screen, windbreak, or stately specimen — and a single row spaced correctly becomes a solid hedge within just a few years.

What I love about it

Green Giant is the privacy tree that actually delivers on its promise. It grows fast — often 3 feet or more per year once established — and it doesn't slow down for years. Unlike common arborvitae, it shrugs off heat, humidity, and disease, and it tolerates a wide range of soils. The foliage stays a rich, deep green year-round with no bronzing in winter. It holds its pyramidal shape naturally with little to no pruning. Plant a row and within 3–5 years you have a solid, living wall that blocks sightlines, softens road noise, and looks polished in every season. If you need privacy in a hurry, this is the tree.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — best growth and density in full sun
• 💧 Water: Water deeply weekly until established; drought-tolerant once mature
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -10°F (Zone 5); tolerates heat and humidity
• 🪴 Difficulty: Very easy — minimal maintenance required
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities
• 📏 Spacing: Space 5–6 ft apart for a solid hedge; 8–10 ft for a looser screen

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 30–50 ft tall, up to 30 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Fast — 3+ ft per year
• Foliage: Deep green; holds color year-round
• Form: Broad pyramid with strong central leader
• Growing Zone: 5–8