Thuja Tater Tot®

A dwarf thuja variety, Thuja Tater Tot® is an evergreen shrub offering year-round interest. A perfect garden accessory, the plant grows as an appealing globe of dense, finely textured, bright green foliage. This bubbly bush requires little shaping to maintain its natural spherical form.

Tater Tot®, a Thuja occidentalis, has a compact, ball-shaped, mounded habit; tidy manner; and a rapid growth rate that works especially well as a specimen in small spaces and planters. It makes a great filler in a container garden, but it is shown to best effect when massed or grouped in beds and borders, adding a bit of formal structure to the garden.

Easy to grow and maintain, Thuja Tater Tot® prefers full to part sun and moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates shade and a wide range of soils but is intolerant of dry conditions and should be watered regularly in extreme heat. To help keep soils moist and cool, add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch. Although little to no pruning is required, any desired pruning should be done in spring, after the new growth has begun to flush out. Avoid cutting into any thick or old stems.

A native plant, Thuja Tater Tot® is indigenous to North America. Native plants are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. Naturally adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region, they thrive without fertilizers or extra watering, once established. They also act as natural pest controls, reducing the need for pesticides in the garden. Landscaping with native plants promotes biodiversity and provides shelter and quality food for wildlife and pollinators, bringing gardens to life.

Thuja trees generally resist deer browsing, but no variety is completely safe. Protect young trees, particularly in times of scarce food.