Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ (30/12/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 3m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Cupressaceae
Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ is a long lived, slow growing evergreen coniferous small tree or shrub with a rounded habit. Its mid green leaves are scale like, shortly pointed, up to 3 mm long, forms flat sprays, are borne on growing lead shoots and smell of pineapple when crushed. Its red/ purple flowers are slender, broad pollen cones with thin overlapping leathery scales. Its fruit are cones, slender and upright, arising from a short stalk and initially green/ yellow become brown autumn.
The species Thuja plicata, commonly known as Western Red Cedar, is native to the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada.
The etymological root of the binomial name Thuja is derived from the Greek thuo meaning ‘to sacrifice’, in reference to the wood being burned with animal sacrifices by the ancient Greek to add a pleasing aroma to the fire. Plicata is derived from the Latin plicatus meaning ‘folded’ in reference to the pattern of its small leaves.
The landscape architect may find Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ very useful as a slow growing architectural evergreen shrub. It may also be used hedging plant.
Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ Leaf (30/12/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ is of little value to UK wildlife.
Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Thuja plicata ‘Hillieri’ requires little maintenance. If being maintained as a hedge it should be trimmed once a year in early August.