Close-up of bright green, needle-like leaves on a conifer branch with a blurred background.

Young evergreen tree in a black plastic pot on a gravel driveway, with stacked nursery pots and pallets to the right.

Young conifer shrub in a black plastic pot on a gravel lot at a plant nursery, with stacks of pots and pallets in the background.

Close-up of evergreen conifer branches with small overlapping scale-like leaves in bright green

Thuja American Pillar

Fast Privacy Screen
Narrow Upright Form
Year-Round Green

Our Guarantee Customer Reviews

#7 Container

$123.00

Out of stock

Want to be notified when this product is back in stock?

Use this e-mail address to send me availability alerts and updates.

Size

Clear

Add installation for only _ per item!

$123.00

The Grasshopper Guarantee

We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
FREE Local Delivery

Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Thuja American Piller Care

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Thuja American Piller

Thuja American Pillar is a narrow upright evergreen arborvitae valued for fast privacy, dense green foliage, and strong vertical structure. Its slim footprint makes it ideal for living screens, hedges, property lines, windbreaks, and tight landscape spaces where year-round coverage is desired.

Why choose Thuja American Pillar?

Choose Thuja American Pillar for quick evergreen screening without excessive width. This columnar arborvitae grows with a tight, upright form that fits neatly along fences, driveways, patios, and boundaries. Its rich green, scale-like foliage provides four-season privacy and a clean backdrop for flowering shrubs and perennials. Compared with broader evergreens, its narrow habit makes it especially useful where space is limited but height, coverage, and year-round structure are still important.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’
Common Name: Thuja American Pillar
Plant Type: Needled evergreen tree
Growth Habit: Fast-growing, narrow columnar evergreen

Thuja American Pillar Additional Information

Thuja American Pillar features dense, flattened sprays of green evergreen foliage that remain attractive throughout the year. Its naturally vertical habit creates a clean architectural look, making it an excellent choice for privacy screens, windbreaks, formal rows, and narrow buffer plantings. Mature plants can develop small cones, but the primary ornamental value is the plant’s year-round foliage, upright form, and screening ability.

This arborvitae grows best in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. It is especially effective when planted in groups, where the narrow form creates fast coverage without requiring the broad spacing of larger evergreens. Minimal pruning is needed to maintain its shape, though light trimming can be used to refine a hedge. Provide steady moisture during establishment, mulch the root zone, and allow enough airflow between plants for a healthy, full screen.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Thuja American Pillar in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. Set the root ball level with the surrounding soil, backfill firmly, and water thoroughly to settle the planting area.

2. Watering: Water consistently during the first growing season to help establish a strong root system. Once established, provide deep watering during extended dry periods, especially in sunny, windy, or sandy locations.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature. Keep mulch slightly away from the trunk to protect the bark.

4. Pruning: Prune lightly in late spring or early summer if shaping is desired. Maintain the natural columnar habit and avoid cutting back into older bare wood.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Thuja American Pillar get?
Thuja American Pillar commonly grows as a tall, narrow evergreen, often reaching about 20 to 30 feet tall and about 4 to 5 feet wide in landscape settings.
How far apart should I plant Thuja American Pillar?
For a dense privacy screen, space Thuja American Pillar about 2.5 to 4 feet apart. Wider spacing allows each plant to show more of its individual columnar shape.
Does Thuja American Pillar need full sun?
Full sun supports the densest growth, but Thuja American Pillar also performs well in part shade. Choose a bright location with good soil moisture for best results.
Is American Pillar deer resistant?
Yes, it has moderate deer resistance. While no arborvitae is completely deer-proof, this variety is less likely to be heavily damaged compared to others.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Tall Growth
Full Sun
Plant Spacing

Mature Height	Large: Up to 30 ft or more
Mature Spread	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Fast
Botanical Name	Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Deer Resistant	Usually
Flower Color	Non Flowering
Family	Cupressaceae
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#7 Container

Map of the United States with all states filled in green, showing a uniform green fill across the country.

Growing Zones 3-8 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -40)

Compare Similar Products

Name	Royal Frost Birch	Adams Crabapple	Profusion Crabapple	Freedom Apple	Camelot Crabapple	Sargent Crabapple
Rating
Mature Height	Large: Up to 30 ft or more	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Large: Up to 30 ft or more	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft
Mature Spread	10-20 ft	10-20 ft	20+ ft	10-20 ft	5-10 ft	10-20 ft
Growth Rate	Fast	Moderate	Fast, Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, Slow	Moderate, Slow
Bloom Time	Mid spring	Mid spring, Early Summer	Mid spring, Early Spring	Mid spring	Mid spring	Late Spring, Mid spring
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Deer Resistant	Usually	Usually	Usually	No	No	No
Family	Betulaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae
Flower Color	Non Flowering	Pink	Pink	White	Pink, Red, White	White
Light Needs	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun
Maintenance	High	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low