Thuja occidentalis Golden Tuffet is an accepted dwarf arborvitae cultivar growing about 1.5 to 3 feet tall and wide. Delicate forked branchlets form low pillow-shaped mounds without a dominant leader. Juvenile needle-like foliage is arranged in four rows, coloring golden orange and yellow around a greener center in summer before developing bronze tones in winter. The juvenile cultivar does not set cones.
Grow it in full sun or partial shade in sheltered, moist but well-drained chalk, loam, or sandy soil. It suits rock gardens, border edges, courtyard containers, and low-maintenance planting. Little pruning is needed; trim lightly in late winter or early spring only if shaping is required. The plant is harmful if eaten and may cause a skin allergy, so wear gloves when handling.
