Thuja occidentalis 'Brabant' – White Cedar / Arborvitae 'Brabant'
Thuja occidentalis 'Brabant' is a fast-growing, columnar evergreen conifer and one of the most dependable hedging and screening plants available to UK gardeners. Producing dense, feathery sprays of soft, aromatic, mid-green foliage that hold their colour reliably through every season, 'Brabant' delivers consistent year-round structure and coverage with minimal fuss. Its vigorous growth rate and naturally upright habit make it equally well suited to formal clipped hedges, rural windbreaks, and structured garden planting — establishing effective screening far more quickly than many comparable evergreens.
Fully hardy, tolerant of a wide range of soils and aspects, and straightforward to maintain, Thuja 'Brabant' offers a softer, more manageable alternative to faster-growing conifers such as Leylandii. Whether used as a crisp formal boundary, a shelter belt in an exposed location, or a bold evergreen accent in a mixed planting, it is a reliable, versatile performer that rewards straightforward care with consistent, attractive results.
Habit & Appearance
Form and foliage. 'Brabant' develops a strongly upright, columnar silhouette that remains naturally well-defined as the plant matures, requiring only modest trimming to stay looking its best. The foliage is carried in flat, overlapping sprays of fine, scale-like leaves with a pleasantly soft texture and a distinctive resinous fragrance when brushed or cut. In spring, fresh new growth emerges in a brighter, slightly lime-tinged green before deepening to a rich, full mid-green through the summer months. Unlike many conifers, 'Brabant' holds this colour exceptionally well through autumn and winter, maintaining an attractive, lush appearance throughout the coldest part of the year. Left to grow freely, plants are capable of reaching 5–6 metres or more at maturity, though they respond very readily to regular trimming and can be maintained at any desired height with ease.
Growth rate. Under good growing conditions, 'Brabant' is capable of putting on 40–60 cm of new growth per year, making it one of the faster-establishing hedging conifers available. This vigorous rate of growth, combined with its naturally dense, branching habit, means that effective privacy screening and practical shelter can be achieved relatively quickly after planting.
Growing Conditions
Position. Thuja 'Brabant' performs best in a position that receives full sun to partial shade. It thrives in an open, bright aspect but tolerates dappled shade comfortably, making it a versatile choice for planting alongside walls, fences, or established trees. Fully hardy throughout the UK, it shows good tolerance of exposed and windswept sites, making it particularly well suited to shelter belt planting in open or elevated locations where many other conifers would struggle.
Soil. Adaptable to most fertile, reasonably well-drained soils, including clay, loam, and sandy ground. 'Brabant' tolerates moderately moist conditions better than many conifers but will not perform well in permanently waterlogged or poorly drained soil. On heavier ground, incorporating organic matter and improving drainage at the time of planting will encourage stronger, healthier establishment. A slightly acid to neutral soil pH is ideal, though 'Brabant' copes well with mildly alkaline conditions too.
Planting spacing. For a dense, uniform privacy hedge, plant approximately 60–80 cm apart. Closer spacing of around 50–60 cm will encourage faster canopy closure for those looking for a quicker initial screen. For shelter belts or more informal planting schemes, wider spacing of up to 1 metre is perfectly acceptable, as plants will naturally bulk out and fill the gaps between them over time.
Care
Watering. Water regularly and thoroughly during the first full growing season after planting to support strong root establishment. This is especially important during dry spells in spring and summer, when newly planted conifers are most vulnerable to moisture stress. Once well established, Thuja 'Brabant' develops a reasonable degree of drought tolerance and will generally only require supplementary watering during extended dry periods.
Feeding. Apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertiliser in early spring each year to encourage strong, consistent growth. A fertiliser formulated specifically for conifers or hedging plants is particularly well suited to this purpose. Mulching around the base of plants each spring with bark chippings or garden compost will help to conserve soil moisture, suppress competing weeds, and moderate root temperature through periods of summer heat or winter cold.
Pruning. One of 'Brabant's' most practical qualities is its naturally tidy, upright form, which requires only light intervention to remain looking its best. Trimming once or twice a year — ideally in late spring after the first flush of new growth has hardened, and again in late summer — is sufficient to maintain a crisp, well-defined hedge line. Always avoid cutting back hard into old, bare wood, as Thuja does not regenerate readily from stems that have lost their foliage. Regular, modest trimming carried out from an early stage consistently produces the densest, most attractive results. Plants left unclipped will naturally develop a broader, more relaxed conical form that remains perfectly ornamental in informal garden settings.
Ideal Uses
Privacy and screening hedges – Dense, year-round evergreen foliage provides reliable visual and noise screening for garden boundaries and property borders.
Windbreaks and shelter belts – Vigorous, bushy growth offers effective wind protection for exposed gardens, rural plots, and open or elevated sites.
Formal hedging – Responds cleanly and evenly to clipping, making it ideal for producing crisp, uniform hedge lines
