Fantastic Design Plant:'Permanently Goldie' Arborvitae
There was a time when I believed conifers to be dull at best and landscape-swallowing thugs at worst. After a few decades of gardening, nevertheless, I am happy to say I was totally wrong and there are some outstanding conifers that truly add value into your backyard. Of particular interest are those that change color throughout the calendar year, and’Forever Goldie’ arborvitae is among my favorites.
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Botanical name: Thuja plicata‘Permanently Goldie’
Common title: ‘Permanently Goldie’ arborvitae (syn.’ 4Ever Goldy’ arborvitae )
USDA zones: 3 to 7 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Average, well drained soil
Light requirement: Total sun
Mature size: 15 to 20 feet tall and 3 ft broad
Advantages and tolerances: Scorch resistant in sunlight; streamlined growth; does not drop
Seasonal interest: Year-round
When to plant: Anytime the ground is achievable from fall through spring
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How to utilize it. Young plants are amazing in container gardens. Consider combining’Forever Goldie’ with cool blues, white and silver for a modern look or move bold with bright orange, deep purple and red.
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As temperatures fall, the foliage takes on an orange cast.
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This color change could inspire a monochromatic scheme using the copper-colored ‘Sirocco’ pheasant tail bud (Stipa arundinacea‘Sirocco’) in containers.
A stand of redtwig dogwood shrubs (Cornus sericea) implanted near this gold conifer would form a beautiful winter vignette.
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‘Forever Goldie’ provides a sculptural, columnar focus in the landscape and shines like a beacon. It partners beautifully with the dusky blue smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’) throughout spring and summer (see first picture ), but if the smoke bush burns red in fall it’s really an unforgettable partnership.
Barberries (Berberis sp), for example’Lime Glow’ (shown here), offer a fantastic choice; many dwarf types are available for smaller gardens. Notice: barberries can be invasive in certain regions; check to find out whether it is suitable for your area before planting.
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Planting notes. Dig a hole the identical depth as the root ball and twice as wide. Sprinkle bone meal at the pit, blend in well and backfill with the native soil, amended with some compost. Keep the soil well watered throughout the first two years; after that, I have discovered, it may take drier states.
For container gardens utilize a well-drained potting mix with roughly a 20 percent organic matter component.