Thujopsis dolabrata 'Nana' (Dwarf False Arborvitae, Dwarf Hiba Arborvitae.)
Michael's Opinion
A great specimen of residential gardens. Thujopsis dolobrata 'Nana' maintains it's shiny dark green foliage all season long. Only needs minimal pruning and grows best in moist, well drained soil and will perform well in both full sun and partial shade.
Botanical Information
| Family | Cuppresaceae |
| Genus | Thujopsis |
| Species | dolabrata |
| Cultivar | 'Nana' |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| References | Dirr, Michael. "Thujopsis dolobrata." Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Portland: Timber Press, 2011. Print. |
| Origin | Horticultural origin. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 5–7 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 6a |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -29 |
| Temperature (°F) | -20 |
| Height | 1 m |
| Spread | 1.5 m |
| Growth | Slow |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A shiny dark green compact, mound-shaped shrub. Maintains its shiny dark green foliage all season long, as well as its good form. Needs minimal pruning, altogether a great evergreen accent plant for home landscapes. |
| ID Characteristic | Reminiscent of typical Thuja, however has thicker, wider and more lustrous foliage. Is round, mounded and flat-topped. Foliage is shiny, dark green above (lighter shade than the straight species) and has distinct white stripes underneath. |
| Shape | Round and mounded flat-topped shrub |
| Landscape | Great for rock gardens, shrub borders and as an accent planting. Good for general garden use. |
| Propagation | Collect cuttings in November, dip in 3,000 ppm of IBA, place cutting in peat and perlite and mist. |
| Cultivation | Prefers moist, acidic, organic soil. Protect from sweeping winds and keep in full sun; however, it will tolerate considerable shade. Prefers high atmospheric pressure, provide more shade at lower altitudes. This is a low maintenance shrub;therefore, it needs minimal pruning. Recommended pruning practices are to cut back new seasons growth or remove any dieback. |
| Pests | No known pests or diseases. Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. |
| Notable Specimens | Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bark exfoliates in long strips, is thin and grey or reddish brown. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Red-brown buds overlap with scales, are sharply pointed and 15 mm in length. |
| Leaf Description | The above side of the leaf is a shining dark green (lighter than Thujopsis dolobrata), flat and glandless on the back, oblong spatulate in shape with a green keel and hollowed silvery white stripes of stomata on each side. The side leaves are larger and the shape can be described as hatchet like (ovate or linear-oblong), and bluntly keeled. |
| Flower Description | Although flowers are not ornamentally appealing or significant; they are similar to Thuja plicata, green in colour becoming a reddish brown when mature. They can be described as upright, woody and leather with overlapping scales. |
| Fruit Description | Subglobose, long cones of 1–2 cm with 6–8 thick woody scales. Each cone ends in a horn-shaped boss, seeds are winged. |
| Colour Description | Foliage is dark green above with distinct silver stripes underneath. Generally does not discolour in winter. |
| Texture Description | Relatively fine textured, set apart in the landscape from other plants because of its less refined foliage. |
Photographs
Thujopsis doabrata 'Nana', leaf.
Thujopsis dolabrata 'Nana', form.