Evergreen Shrubs – Fire Chief Arborvitae

Fire chief globe arborvitae 

Botanical name: thuja occidentalis ‘congabe’ 

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: 2-4 ft in height and in spread

Hardy zone: zones 5-8

Foliage color: red/yellow/gold/orange/red

Growth rate: grows less than a ft per year 

Pruning instructions: prune in the late winter/early spring to maintain desired shape and size 

Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings 

Landscape use: border, low hedge, mass planting

Light needs: 6 hours of sun per day 

Special features: color changing foliage, compact globe shape, deer resistant 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : use a slow release tree and shrub fertilizer once a month in the early spring 

Best time to plant: spring or fall 

Best type of soil: adapts to all types of soil

Companion plants: boxwoods, junipers, loropetalum, barberry 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for pets but mildly toxic for humans if ingested 

Invasive species: no