Description
Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Wintergreen’, commonly known as Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae, is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub prized for its dense, vibrant green foliage that retains color throughout the winter months. This cultivar is a selection of the native Eastern Arborvitae, valued for its hardiness in cold climates and versatility in landscape design, often used for hedges, screens, or foundation plantings. ‘Hetz Wintergreen’ features a conical form with soft, flat sprays of scale-like leaves that emit a fresh, cedar-like fragrance when crushed. Its unique combination of winter color retention and a tidy growth habit makes it a standout choice for year-round interest in temperate gardens. Developed through selective breeding to enhance both aesthetic appeal and environmental resilience, this cultivar reflects a long history of cultivation dating back to the 19th century when Thuja species were first widely introduced into North American and European landscaping. Recognized for its outstanding garden performance, ‘Hetz Wintergreen’ has been favored by landscapers and gardeners for creating evergreen privacy screens and windbreaks that maintain greenery and structure through harsh winters.