Buy 2 plants - Thuja occidentalis ‘Enlightened’: This amazing, chameleon acting cultivar of eastern arborvitae is a great, garden candidate for adding appealing, seasonal color changes on a graceful conical form. It is noticeably different from other yellow-colored arborvitae by having mint green foliage highlighted with a bright, frosting of platinum-cream that is most pronounced in a sunny location. As it goes into winter dormancy, it then transforms to a cream and caramel state with olive-green undertones. A typical growth rate is 8 to 12 inches per year. In 10 years, this attention demanding specimen may reach 12 feet high by 8 feet wide. It is very tolerant of heat and humidity and also very durable under the harshness of winter. It was just a 2 yr. old plant when planted in 2007 and was not damaged in the Polar Vortex winters of 2013 and 2014 in full sun. It also sustained no burn in the droughty, hottest summer of 2012. It performs well in USDA zones 3 through 7.

Dr. Clark West from Cincinnati, Ohio who immersed himself in hybridizing and growing arborvitaes. On a trip to England with the ACS in 1995 he collected seed from Thuja occidentalis ‘Marrisen’s Sulfur’. After growing out the seed Dr. Clark gave Tess and Jay a few cuttings of his seedlings at a Conifer Connection weekend to evaluate. After just a few years, she was so impressed with its performance and ornamental attributes that she named it and registered it with the Royal Horticultural Society in 2012 for Dr. West and began sharing scion.

Note: Only one metal plant tag will be shipped with this order of 2 Enlightened.

Non-Member Price: $140.00 (includes 1-year Basic Household Membership)
Member Price: $100.00