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Asunaro

Thujopsis dolabrata (thoo-YOP-sis dol-uh-BRAY-tuh)

Family: Cupressaceae Non-native Canopy (>40 ft)

Hiba arborvitae is a large conical evergreen conifer tree in the cypress family. It is native to the moist forests of Central Japan and may grow as tall as 100 feet in its native habitat. Cultivated trees grow from 30 to 50 feet tall. The bright, coarse, glossy green leaves are densely packed to provide color and winter interest in the garden. Seed cones ripen in the fall, and it also has attractive flaking bark. This conifer is dense and pyramidal, and it usually has a conical crown with branches that sweep upward. The genus name, Thujopsis , comes from the genus name, Thuja. Opsis is translated as meaning "like or similar." The epithet, dolabrata, refers to the stomatal bands on the undersides of the leaves and means "hatch-like." Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic soils. This tree does not tolerate dry soils and appreciates protection from wind and afternoon sun in hot summer locations. This tree is quite large so choose a location that plans for its mature size. This evergreen is intolerant to drought, and it is best to avoid exposed sites, windy sites, or full shade. It can be susceptible to branch breakage from snow and ice and winter burn on leaves. Hiba arborvitae has a beautiful form and foliage, but it requires a large space to grow. Quick ID Hints: large conifer with pyramidal habit and conical crown flaking gray to reddish-brown bark the leaves are small, scale-like, dark glossy green on the upper surface with stomatal bands on the undersides non-flowering small solitary brown seed cones on terminal branches that ripen in the fall Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect and disease issues but leaf blight can cause some damage as may canker, leaf miner, scales, mealybugs, and mites. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 1 - Canopy (>40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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 niche Cornus mas Ilex Oakland™ 'Magland' Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Dense; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Decussate pairs of small-scale-like leaves that measure 4-6 mm long. The thick fleshy coarse leaves are glossy green on the upper surface, and they have white stomatal bands beneath.
Flower detail
Non-flowering
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Seed cones are about 0.75-inches long and are tiny, thick, ovoid, and brown. They are solitary on terminal branches.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Gray to Red-brown exfoliating or flaking bark that flakes off in vertical strips
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
The branchlets grow in a single plane.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Wildlife value
Provides shelter for wildlife
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Shade Tree
Garden tags
#conifer #large tree #slow growing #needled evergreen #winter interest #fleshy leaves #glossy leaves #privacy #dense growth #landscape plant sleuths course #drought intolerant #hedge #wildlife friendly #HS304 #winter cover #screen
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Pests of Conifers

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.