Tree · Cupressaceae family
oriental arborvitae
Platycladus orientalis
In short a 10-second read
Oriental arborvitae (tree) grows to 5–10 m tall and 2–4 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −23 °C.
× spread 2–4 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −23 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: sandy, loamy, gravelly
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove overlong shoots (April–August).
Planting
container plant: March, October–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −23 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −23 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does oriental arborvitae tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does oriental arborvitae need?
At maturity 2–4 m wide and 5–10 m tall; recommended spacing 200 cm.
Does oriental arborvitae survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −23 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (11)
- GBIF — Platycladus orientalis
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- NC State Extension - Platycladus orientalis
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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