Choose Green Giant Arborvitae if you need a fast, large evergreen screen and have room to let it grow. The payoff is quick privacy and strong deer resistance; the tradeoff is size—it is not a tight-yard foundation plant.
Buy This If
You need privacy sooner.
You have space for a large screen.
You want better deer resistance than many arborvitae.
Skip This If
You need a compact evergreen.
You want a tight formal hedge.
You cannot water during establishment.
PGNE Report Card
Category
Grade
Why
Landscape Impact
A
It makes a strong property-line screen, but its scale can overpower small plantings.
Growth Rate
A
It is a fast grower once established, which is the main reason to buy it.
Maintenance
B+
It needs little shaping, but young plants still need steady watering and room.
Deer Resistance
A-
Its Thuja plicata genetics give it strong deer resistance for our region.
Small Space Fit
D
This is the wrong plant for tight beds, corners, and small urban yards.
Screening Value
A+
For a large evergreen privacy row, it is one of the strongest options we sell.
Wet Site Tolerance
C+
It takes average to moist ground but does not have the swamp tolerance of our native Thuja occidentalis arborvitae.
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Green Giant Arborvitae when the customer wants privacy more than a formal hedge. Give it space, water it well while it settles in, and do not crowd it against the house. If the job is a permitted shoreland or wetland buffer, or the screening line runs through wet ground, we would switch you to a native Thuja occidentalis variety instead — Dark Green, Techny, or Emerald Green.
Plant Facts
Botanical Name
Thuja x. plicata 'Green Giant'
Common Name
Green Giant Arborvitae
Mature Height
20-40 ft
Mature Width
8-12 ft
Hardiness Zones
5a-9b
Spacing
5-6 ft
Sun
Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture
Dry to moist
Growth Habit
Fast-growing, pyramidal, upright
Evergreen
Yes
Native
No (hybrid parent species native to the Pacific Northwest and Japan, not New England/eastern US)
Best Used For
Fast large-scale privacy screening • Windbreaks and road buffers • Long property lines with room to grow
Wetland Indicator Status
Not rated — non-native hybrid, not listed on the USDA/USACE National Wetland Plant List for our region. Not for permitted wetland or buffer restoration work.
Customers Usually Ask
How fast will it screen?
Faster than most arborvitae, especially after the roots settle in.
Is this a native arborvitae?
No. Green Giant is a hybrid of Pacific Northwest and Japanese parents. If you need native, or the job is a permitted buffer planting, use one of our Thuja occidentalis varieties — they are native and carry a FACW wetland rating.
Will deer eat it?
It has strong deer resistance in our market, though no plant is immune.
Can I keep it small?
Not realistically; choose a smaller arborvitae if size control matters.
Why Choose Arborvitaes for Privacy & Year-Round Coverage?
Arborvitaes are the gold standard for privacy screens and evergreen structure in New England landscapes. Known for their dense foliage, year-round color, and cold hardiness, these fast-growing evergreens create natural boundaries, wind protection.
Fast, Dense Privacy: Quick-growing varieties fill in efficiently to create natural screening from neighbors or roads.
Year-Round Evergreen Color: Maintain consistent greenery through winter when other plants go dormant.
Cold Hardy & Reliable: Built to withstand northern climates, arborvitaes provide dependable long-term structure.
Why Choose Pro Growers of New England for Arborvitaes?
At Pro Growers of New England, our arborvitaes are grown and maintained locally for real New England conditions — not boxed up and shipped across the country. Every plant is carefully selected, properly spaced, and allowed to develop strong root systems before ever leaving the nursery.
Unlike large online sellers, you’re welcome to visit our nursery in person, walk the rows, inspect the exact plants available, and see firsthand how they’re grown. That means no surprises, no guessing, and no damaged plants from long-distance transit.
I had a great experience with Pro Growers of New England. When I was looking to purchase a couple of trees for my yard, I came across them while searching for places nearby. Buying plants online can be a little intimidating because there are so many variables, but they were only about 10 minutes away, so I decided to stop by.
All of the plants were really well cared for, they had a great irrigation setup to keep everything watered, and the selection was enormous. I ended up placing an order online, and they picked out a couple of beautiful trees for me. I had a last-minute change in the tree I wanted, and when I called they were very accommodating.
The staff was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. They helped me find everything I needed, answered my questions, and made the entire experience easy. I also had one tricky planting location with a big rock and a tough invasive vine, but they made it work and planted everything perfectly.
I wasn’t sure at first if I should have the trees professionally installed, but I’m so glad I did. They did an excellent job, and the whole experience was easy from start to finish. Thanks so much for the beautiful plants and the great service!
It helps us recommend plants that are best for your local climate, based on your growing zone. Also, because we ship plants based on when they are best for your local climate, it allows us to give you a more accurate estimate of when your order will ship.
