Thuja, Arborvitae 'Holmstrup'
Best compact evergreen for creating formal privacy screens in small gardens.
Enhance your landscape with the Thuja, Arborvitae 'Holmstrup,' a distinguished evergreen shrub offering a neat, upright, and formal pyramidal form. Its dense structure and bright green foliage mature to a rich forest green, providing year-round visual appeal. This slow-growing variety is ideal for creating striking accent points, effective privacy screens, or well-defined hedges. Reaching a mature height of approximately 7 feet and a spread of 3 feet, it's a perfect fit for various garden sizes, thriving in full sun to partial shade conditions.
$34.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2598
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-11%
Below average
Mature Height
7
/ feet
Who it's for
- Gardeners needing narrow privacy screens for tight landscape spaces
- Homeowners in northern climates seeking reliable winter-hardy evergreens
- Landscapers wanting vibrant green foliage throughout the entire year
Who should skip it
- Residents in heavy snowfall regions wanting low-maintenance winter plants
- Gardeners with poor soil drainage or limited irrigation access
- Property owners living in areas with high deer populations
Performance breakdown
Architectural Form
Rigidly columnar structure provides an exceptionally clean and formal landscape silhouette.
Space Efficiency
Compact footprint makes it ideal for tight urban garden layouts.
Climate Resilience
Hardy down to zone 3, ensuring reliable survival in harsh winters.
Maintenance Ease
Slow growth rate minimizes the need for frequent, labor-intensive pruning.
Year-Round Aesthetics
Dense evergreen foliage maintains vibrant color throughout all four seasons.
Urban Adaptability
Demonstrates solid tolerance for city pollution and varied light conditions.
Key Specs
Mature Height
7 feet
Mature Spread
3 feet
Sunlight Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness Zone
3a
Growth Rate
Slow
Expected Lifespan
Approximately 30 years
Other Name
Eastern White Cedar
Plant Type
Dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub
Features
- Maintains a rigidly columnar, upright form
- Dense, multi-stemmed evergreen structure
- Foliage stays rich green year-round
- Compact size ideal for smaller spaces
- Provides a tidy, formal landscape appearance
- Scale-like sprays of fine-textured foliage
- Tolerates light shade
- Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution
What customers say
Customers are highly satisfied with the Thuja Arborvitae 'Holmstrup,' primarily praising its superior quality and immediate visual appeal. Reviewers consistently report receiving exceptionally healthy plants featuring dense, rich green foliage and robust root systems. The narrow, upright growth habit perfectly meets expectations for tight spaces and formal screening needs. While the initial cost is slightly higher than mass market options, buyers feel the premium is justified by the excellent condition upon arrival and the promise of reliable establishment. This variety is viewed as a dependable, high value investment for landscaping projects requiring attractive, trustworthy evergreens.
Know before you buy
Since the 'Holmstrup' has a mature spread of 3 feet, you should space them approximately 3 feet apart on center if you want the branches to touch and form a continuous, dense hedge.
No, the 'Holmstrup' is prized for its naturally neat, upright, and pyramidal form. It requires very little pruning to maintain its structure, making it a low-maintenance choice for formal landscapes.
Yes, this variety is quite versatile and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. While it will grow most densely in full sun, it remains a reliable performer in areas with limited light.
Yes, the 'Holmstrup' is noted for being somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This makes it a practical choice for city gardens or landscapes located near busy roads.
This is a very hardy evergreen, suitable for USDA zones 3 through 7. It is well-equipped to handle cold winters, making it an excellent option for northern climates.
The 'Holmstrup' is a slow-growing variety. While this means it takes longer to reach its mature height of 7 feet, it also means you won't have to worry about it quickly outgrowing its designated space.
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$35