The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
Sting® Arborvitae
Sting® Arborvitae
Out of stock
Thuja occidentalis 'SMNTOO'
Choose Sting® Arborvitae if you want real height in an almost impossibly narrow footprint — it's often described as a living exclamation point. The tradeoff: at just 1-1.5 ft wide, it adds structure and accent, not a solid privacy wall on its own.
Buy This If
- You want height without eating up width.
- You like an architectural, sculptural plant.
- You're working with an extremely narrow bed.
Skip This If
- You need a solid privacy wall on its own.
- Deer browse heavily nearby.
- You want a traditional full, bushy hedge.
PGNE Report Card
| Category | Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Impact | A | Its sword-like silhouette makes a striking vertical accent unlike any other arborvitae we carry. |
| Growth Rate | B- | It grows steadily but takes patience to reach its full 15-20 ft height. |
| Maintenance | A- | It holds its narrow shape naturally with little to no shearing needed. |
| Deer Resistance | D | As a Thuja occidentalis selection, it is not the arborvitae we would lean on where browsing is a serious issue. |
| Small Space Fit | A+ | This is the entire point of the plant — real height in under 2 square feet of footprint. |
| Screening Value | C | Alone it's an accent, not a screen; plant in a row or grouping if privacy is the goal. |
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Sting® as a vertical accent or specimen — near an entry, a corner, or grouped for a narrow living screen — rather than as a single stand-in for a privacy hedge.
Plant Facts
| Botanical Name | Thuja occidentalis 'SMNTOO' |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Sting® Arborvitae |
| Mature Height | 15-20 ft |
| Mature Width | 1-1.5 ft |
| Hardiness Zones | 3a-8b |
| Spacing | 1.5-2 ft |
| Sun | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Moisture | Average to moist |
| Growth Habit | Very narrow, columnar, upright |
| Evergreen | Yes |
| Native | Yes (species native to New England/eastern US) |
Customers Usually Ask
Is this good for privacy?
On its own, no — it's too narrow. Planted in a row or grouping, its real height makes an effective narrow screen.
Will it need pruning?
Usually not much, as long as you give it room and avoid shearing it wide.
Can it grow in a container?
Only short-term — it reaches 15-20 ft at maturity, so it needs to go in the ground eventually.
Pro Growers of New England, Inc
SKU:PGNE-12035
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