Thuja Green Giant in Houston Texas

11 months ago

I'm looking to create a 15ft-20ft high privacy hedge in my backyard to block my neighbor's view into my backyard. I'm looking for a fast growing evergreen and came across the thuja GG. online, it is advertised as hardy for up to zone 9 (Houston). but I also read they do better in colder weather than in heat. This summer, Houston is getting up to 99 degrees F.

has anyone planted thujas GG in Houston?

how fast do they grow in this area?

how tolerant are they to Houston heat?

if not, is there another fast growing every green you recommend.

Thanks,

Marcelo

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

11 months ago

My primary source is my personal experience with these trees in my area but check any reputable horticultural source for correct specs - extension services, MOBOT, National Arboretum, etc. And they won't stop at 35' tall either!! Several planted in the 90's at a former nursery I used to work for are now maybe 40-45' tall and a good 20' wide at the base. And that was several years ago (5?) when I last saw them....no doubt appreciably larger now.

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Comments (15)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 months ago
they are called GIANTS.. because.. well.. they get giant ... they will not stop at your height requirement ... and they will get very wide at the bottom ...

do you have the space at ground level.. for something giant???

perhaps a pic of the situation.... will get you better advice ...

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 months ago
Can't tell you how well they do in extreme heat - although a similar zone, that only refers to winter cold temps, not anything to do with summer! And it just doesn't get that hot here in summer for more than a day or two at most. Anything in the 90's is a rare event!

But you should be aware that if they do grow well for you in Houston, they will get a LOT bigger than 15-20 feet!!
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marceloamt
Original Author
11 months ago
20FT is the minimum I'd like. I don't have a problem if they grow 30-40 FT tall.

I have a 8ft easement from the back fence to the pool, in which I'd like to plant them. I'd remove the italian cypress, yews and shrubs I have back there now. thanks.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 months ago
8' is too narrow for GG's. They will have a base spread of 15' or more once they start growing well.
marceloamt
Original Author
11 months ago
thanks for your reply. https://www.fast-growing-trees.com says width is 5-8 ft when mature.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 months ago
Sorry but they are incorrect! Most sources will state 10-12' after 10 years and wider with more time. In my climate, you can see GG's with a 25' base spread.

You can keep tighter with shearing but that's a big PITA if you have many.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 months ago
fast growing trees.. are fast to grow.. fast to over grow.. prone to damage due to fast growth ... and as trees.. NEVER stop growing ... unless they collapse due to the above ...

i would NEVER rely on a site thats base marketing ploy is fast growing ...

as such.. what they said is blatantly wrong .. and of no value to you ....

at very good sites.. all estimates are at 10 years ... and you can presume at 20 years... they will be twice as big ...

and for a shiny penny i will tell you how i really feel ...

ken
marceloamt
Original Author
11 months ago
thank you both: @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) , @ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 - if possible, please provide your sources. I'd like to read them as mine say 8ft wide x 35ft tall.

I'm still looking for answers to my questions:

has anyone planted thujas GG in Houston?

how fast do they grow in this area?

how tolerant are they to Houston heat?
Jinx
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
I’ll just answer the heat question: they do fine. No heat issues at all, ime.

Texas here, had three in full sun at my last house ... triple digits for weeks every summer. Mine thrived and grew fast, never had any browning.
marceloamt thanked Jinx
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 months ago
here is how i look to future potential ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=thuja+Green+Giant+size&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

this MI boy knows nothing about TX ... your on your own with that part ...

my primary source is the 100 i planted on my 5 acres ... being a member of the conifer society.. and my collection of 500 plus conifers that i grow ... in MI ....

good luck ... i gave what i can provide ...

ken
marceloamt thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Embothrium
11 months ago
please provide your sources. I'd like to read them as mine say 8ft wide x 35ft tall

Plant sizes given by commercial sources in particular for trees and shrubs are often based on comparatively short periods of time such as 10 or 20 years - I've even seen a 10 year size called "mature", as if woody plants didn't often live for decades (or centuries).

And of course no woody plant growth except individual bamboo canes grows quickly to a specific height and diameter and then remains frozen there, without continued increase occurring throughout the life of the plant.
indianagardengirl
11 months ago
http://hort.uconn.edu/detail.php?pid=501

http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/thuplia.pdf
marceloamt
Original Author
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
Have you heard of thuja gardens? thoughts? I called and emailed them, but no answer.

https://www.thujagardens.com/product-page/thuja-green-giant
Sherwood Botsford (z3, Alberta)
3 months ago
The primary difference between the many arborvitae cultivars (Thuja occidentalis) is the shape and limits. Green Giant is one of the older varieties that tends to sprawl. Skybound has been the best in my experience for staying columnar, with a height/width ratio of about 4:1. In your climate however, some of the cypress cultivars may be better.

All cedars tend to sprawl some. Giving them a haircut, trimmng off the bits that stick out will keep them neat. This gets difficult once they outgrow your step ladder.

Thuja Green Giant in Houston Texas

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