What soil does Danica arborvitae grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, calcareous.

Is Danica arborvitae hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Danica arborvitae be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Danica arborvitae need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Danica arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Danica'

Danica arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Danica') is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to children.

Illustration of Danica arborvitae — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A dwarf arborvitae that forms a regular, dense, slightly flattened globe without any clipping, with bright emerald green sprays held vertically. It grows very slowly: at ten years it is roughly 40 cm tall and half a metre wide, and in time it broadens into a cushion of 60 to 80 cm that is wider than tall. Use it at the front of a border, as a repeated evergreen ball, in a rock garden or in a tub. It stays densest in sun, the soil must not dry out, and it needs regular watering in summer heat; in winter the foliage can take on a bronze tint.

Watch out for

It is the same species as the thuja hedges that are dying on a large scale, and it shares their problems. Without watering it cannot cope with the hot, dry summers of Central Europe: shoot tips brown, the globe goes bare inside and dead parts do not reshoot. Weakened plants can get fungal shoot and scale-leaf blights, spider mites and scale insects. The juniper 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 can splay the globe apart, so shake the snow off. Dog urine browns the foliage in patches.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 40 cm × 50 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	40 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	0.5–1 m × 0.6–1 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	70 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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