Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana'

Search PlantFinder Names

Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana'

(1 ratings) --- Rate this plant / Read comments

Kemper Code: C388

Common Name: oriental arborvitae
Zone: 6 to 9
Plant Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

Plant Culture and Characteristics

Sources for this plant

View our source(s)

Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Grow in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light afternoon shade. Appreciates good air circulation. Water plants regularly and deeply in hot and dry summer periods. In St. Louis, site in locations sheltered from strong winds. ‘Aurea Nana’ is reportedly less winter hardy than the species.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Oriental arborvitae or Oriental thuja typically grows as a dense, conical to columnar, evergreen tree or large shrub to 18-25’ tall. Plants tend to open up with age. Plants have distinctive reddish-brown bark that peels with age. ‘Aurea Nana’ is a dwarf, rounded variety that grows to 5’ tall over the first 10 years. Scale-like golden yellow foliage appears in flattened sprays. Foliage may bronze up in winter. Oval female cones (to 3/4” long) may appear. Platycladus comes from Greek words meaning broad (platys) and branch (klados) in reference to its vertical plane branching configuration. Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’ is synonymous with and formerly know as Thuja orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’. ‘Aurea Nana’ is sometimes listed and/or sold under the trade name of BERCKMAN’S GOLDEN ARBORVITAE.

Problems:

Healthy, well-maintained plants usually have few major problems. Watch for bagworms and spider mites. Scales, aphids, caterpillars, borers and mealybugs may appear. Branches may be broken from snow weight in winter.

Uses:

Small hedge, foundation, border, accent or small garden. Container.

More photos: