'Little Gem' arborvitae is a dwarf, needled evergreen shrub in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is a cultivar of the American arborvitae. This shrub is widely adaptable to a variety of soil types and is tolerant of alkaline soil. It does not tolerate dry or exposed, windy sites. It grows well in full sun or dappled sunlight. Avoid full shade, though, or the foliage will thin out dramatically. ‘Little Gem’ arborvitae’s foliage is an attractive deep green with scale-like leaves in dense, flat sprays that hold their color well through cold winters—although they may bronze somewhat. Its shape is dense, flattened, and broadly globular. It generally matures to only about 3 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide over the first 10 years. The dwarf ‘Little Gem’ is ideal in lawns or small spaces. It can also be used as an accent or in a border planting. Its deep green color makes it a good choice for a winter garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Damage from deer browsing can be a serious problem. Leaf miners may damage leaf tips. Bagworms, mealy bugs, scales, and spider mites are occasional visitors. Canker can occasionally be a problem. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Thuja occidentalis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheChamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot' s Spire'Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz' s Midget'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf feel
Rough
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy dark green leaves; crumpled, crowded, flat sprays held at various angles; thin, horizontal, spreading branches.