Overview
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) is a bushy conifer in the genus Thuja, part of the Cupressaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden and rock garden. It is native to Alberta and British Columbia.
About
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' is a well-branched evergreen conifer cultivar of Thuja suited to small-scale planting. It keeps dense foliage year-round and prefers sheltered sites. It grows on a wide range of soils from chalk to clay so long as they are well-drained or moist but well-drained. Fully hardy (H7), it tolerates south-, west- or east-facing positions in the UK.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Thuja plicata
About the genus
Thuja is a genus of coniferous tree or shrub in the Cupressaceae. There are five species in the genus, two native to North America and three native to eastern Asia. The genus is monophyletic and sister to Thujopsis.
Wikipedia contributors, "Thuja", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Thuja
In the garden
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' is an evergreen conifer in the Cupressaceae, derived from the species native to Alberta and British Columbia. As a cultivar of Thuja, it retains the species’ capacity for persistent foliage while keeping a compact, well-branched form suitable where space is limited. Plant it in full sun or partial shade on a south-, west- or east-facing site that is sheltered from the worst winds. It accepts a broad range of soils — chalk, clay, loam or sand — and copes with acid, neutral or alkaline pH provided the soil is well-drained or at least moist but well-drained. Hardiness is H7, meaning it is fully hardy in typical UK gardens. Use Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' where year-round structure is required: city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal borders, or tucked into rock garden corners. Its compact, dense habit gives reliable evergreen screening and architectural presence in confined spaces, so it suits narrow plots and courtyard borders where a permanent, low-maintenance green element is needed.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Thuja
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Conifer
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden
- Native to
- Alberta, British Columbia
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v)
- Propagation
- Semi-ripe cuttings, Seed
- Pest resistance
- Scale insects, Conifer aphid
- Disease resistance
- Honey fungus, Phytophthora root rot, Thuja blight
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v)?
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) need?
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.
Is Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) hardy in the UK?
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v) has an RHS hardiness rating of H7, meaning it is fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures below -20°C.
How do I propagate Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold' (v)?
Semi-ripe cuttings, Seed.
More in the Thuja genus
- Thuja occidentalis 'Smokey'Northern White-Cedar
- Thuja occidentalis 'Southport'Northern White-Cedar
- Thuja plicata 'Excelsa'western red cedar 'Excelsa'
- Thuja plicata 'Kager's Beauty'Western Redcedar