Eastern thuja - Thuja orientalis - is a species native to China, Korea and Japan. In garden cultivation, it is much less popular than Western Thuja - mainly due to the much lower frost resistance, which limits the possibilities ofgrowing Eastern Thujain our country. However, there arevarieties of the Eastern Thujathat are worth paying attention to. Learn the secrets of growing these amazing tui!
Eastern Thuja 'Elegantissima'
Eastern thuja- Thuja orientalis - is most often classified as a species belonging to the genus Thuja.Recently, however, due to morphological differences, it was separated as a separate species, classified under the name Biota orientalis or Platycladus orientalis. Nevertheless, in trade we can still find it under the commonly known name Eastern thuja or simply thuja.
The speciesThuja orientalisis a slow-growing, quite regular, ovate or ovate-conical shrub, in old age a small tree, growing up to 6 -7 m tall, branched from the ground. Its branches are long, vertically raised, of delicate structure, with a lush green color. Unfortunately, it often loses this color, turning brown in winter. Forms decorative, large and fleshy cones up to 2.5 cm in diameter, with bent, hook-shaped tips of scales, blue colored before maturing.
Eastern Thuja - cultivation
In gardensEastern Thujaand its varieties are much less common than the extremely popular Western Thuja occidentalis (Thuja occidentalis), which is much less resistant to frost and resulting in reduced suitability for cultivation in our climatic conditions.The cultivation of the thuja and its varieties should be abandoned, first of all, in the eastern part of Poland, because the plant is damaged by frosty drying winds. The plant is quite tolerant to soils, although it feels best on permeable, deeply cultivated, calcareous soils. Requires a sunny, warm and sheltered position.
Eastern Thuja - cultivars
The most famousvariety of the Eastern Thujais 'Aurea Nana', characterized by a compact, dense, ovoid-spherical habit. Delicate golden-yellow twigs, densely arranged in a fan shape. Young spring shoots are light yellow-green, with time they turn more green, and in winter they may turn a bit brown. It grows very slowly, reaching only about 70 cm in 10 years. Its soil and moisture requirements are moderate, but it must grow in a warm and windless place.
The second quite commonvariety of the Eastern Thujais 'Elegantissima'.Its structure is quite similar to 'Aurea Nana', but its habit is more narrow cone. It grows much faster - annual increments can be 10-12 cm, and the target height is 4-5 m.
