Arborvitae vs European hornbeam

Arborvitae and European hornbeam are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 3.5 m × 1.2 m after 10 years

A dense evergreen with scale-like foliage, planted in its columnar and conical forms (such as fast Brabant or slim Columna) as a clipped hedge or…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 19

European hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 6 m × 4.5 m after 10 years

It makes a dense hedge that responds well to clipping, but grows into a large shade tree if left unpruned. The foliage turns yellow in autumn, and…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 2

Key differences

Arborvitae: We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. In Central Europe thuja hedges are dying on a large scale, for several reasons that reinforce each other. The plant comes from cool, humid sites and cannot cope with hot, dry summers without watering: shoot tips brown and whole branches die.
Arborvitae is evergreen, European hornbeam is deciduous.
European hornbeam grows larger: 6 m × 4.5 m after ten years, against 3.5 m × 1.2 m for Arborvitae (an estimate: sources differ).
European hornbeam tolerates drought better than Arborvitae.
European hornbeam needs less water than Arborvitae.
European hornbeam also grows in shade, Arborvitae does not.

Which one to choose?

European hornbeam is the safer choice: we do not recommend planting Arborvitae in most gardens.

Watch out for

Arborvitae

In Central Europe thuja hedges are dying on a large scale, for several reasons that reinforce each other. The plant comes from cool, humid sites and cannot cope with hot, dry summers without watering: shoot tips brown and whole branches die. Weakened plants are attacked by the juniper jewel beetle (Lamprodila festiva, also called Ovalisia festiva): its larvae eat the phloem under the bark, a branch or the whole plant suddenly turns red-brown and dies, and oval exit holes are left on the trunk. Nothing works against the larvae under the bark; infested parts can only be cut out and destroyed. Fungal shoot and scale-leaf blights and the thuja bark beetle add to the damage. For these reasons experts no longer advise planting new thuja hedges; yew, privet or a mixed hedge is a safer choice. The dwarf globe forms are the same species and suffer from drought and fungal browning just the same; the jewel beetle mainly goes for exposed, sun-warmed trunks, so it is less common on small globes branched to the ground, but nothing shows that they are immune. In winter frozen soil and wind can brown the foliage, and wet snow splays columnar forms apart.

The data side by side

Feature	Arborvitae	European hornbeam
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	3.5 m × 1.2 m (uncertain)	6 m × 4.5 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	0.5–20 m × 0.5–4.5 m (uncertain)	15–20 m × 9–12 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -27 °C (USDA 5, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Low	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen	Deciduous
Flowering	no data	March–April, yellow, green
Water need	High	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2.5 plants per running metre	3.5 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)	no data
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)	no data
For children	Toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. PLN 19	about PLN 6 (40–60 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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