Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Platycladus orientalis (Oriental thuja)
1 hour care
per year
per year
15m
Max height
Max height
6m
Max spread
Max spread
20-50 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Platycladus orientalis
Other names
Oriental thuja, Chinese arbor-vitae, Chinese arborvitae, Chinese thuja, Eastern arborvitae, Biota, Biota orientalis, Oriental aborvitae
Genus
Platycladus Platycladus
Species
P. orientalis - P. orientalis is a conical to irregular, coniferous tree with fiborous, reddish-brown bark and upright, flattened sprays of scale-like, wedge- or diamond-shaped, lightly aromatic, mid- to yellow-green leaves, usually turning bronze in winter, and erect, scaly, ovoid to pear-shaped, grey female cones with a prominent hook below the tip.
Platycladus orientalis is: Evergreen
Habit
Conical, Irregular
Toxicity
Contact with the skin may cause irritation.
Foliage
Flushed bronze in Winter; Yellow-green, Mid-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Scale insects Scale insects
Canker Canker
General care
Pruning
Little to no pruning required.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Platycladus orientalis (Oriental thuja) will reach a height of 15m and a spread of 6m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Beds and borders, Architectural, Rock, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Needs protection from drying winds, particularly when young. Water regularly in hot, dry periods.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Platycladus orientalis
Other names
Oriental thuja, Chinese arbor-vitae, Chinese arborvitae, Chinese thuja, Eastern arborvitae, Biota, Biota orientalis, Oriental aborvitae
Genus
Platycladus Platycladus
Species
P. orientalis - P. orientalis is a conical to irregular, coniferous tree with fiborous, reddish-brown bark and upright, flattened sprays of scale-like, wedge- or diamond-shaped, lightly aromatic, mid- to yellow-green leaves, usually turning bronze in winter, and erect, scaly, ovoid to pear-shaped, grey female cones with a prominent hook below the tip.
Native to
China, Korea
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Conical, Irregular
Toxicity
Contact with the skin may cause irritation.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Foliage
Flushed bronze in Winter; Yellow-green, Mid-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Little to no pruning required.
Propagation methods
Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Platycladus orientalis (Oriental thuja) will reach a height of 15m and a spread of 6m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Beds and borders, Architectural, Rock, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Needs protection from drying winds, particularly when young. Water regularly in hot, dry periods.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login