Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Thuja for Zone 4

32 Thuja varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

32 hardy hereof 47 Thuja totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Thuja that thrive in Zone 4

#1 most saved

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'

Zones 4–7· 198 saves· from $17

#2 most saved

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd Emerald'

Zones 4–7· 147 saves

#3 most saved

American Pillar Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'

Zones 4–8· 119 saves· from $24

Degroot's Spire Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot'

Zones 4–7· 109 saves

Eastern Arborvitae Western Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Columbia'

Zones 4–9· 98 saves

Fire Chief Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief'

Zones 4–8· 91 saves· from $20

Oriental Arborvitae Pomona

Thuja orientalis 'Pomona'

Zones 4–8· 88 saves

Tater Tot Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'TATER TOT'

Zones 4–8· 84 saves· from $20

Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Mr Bowling Ball'

Zones 4–8· 84 saves· from $22

Degroot's Spire Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire'

Zones 4–8· 82 saves· from $22

Golden Globe Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe'

Zones 4–7· 81 saves· from $40

Polar Gold Thuja

Thuja occidentalis 'Polar Gold'

Zones 4–7· 79 saves· from $22

Weeping Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula'

Zones 4–8· 76 saves

Sunkist Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

Zones 4–7· 76 saves

Oriental Arborvitae

Thuja orientalis 'Conspicua'

Zones 4–9· 73 saves

Woodward Globe Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Woodward Globe'

Zones 4–7· 73 saves· from $40

Eastern Arborvitae Thin Man

Thuja occidentalis 'Thin Man'

Zones 4–7· 73 saves· from $24

Eastern Arborvitae Northern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Zones 4–7· 66 saves

Little Giant Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Little Giant'

Zones 4–7· 66 saves· from $37

Eastern Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sting'

Zones 4–7· 65 saves· from $20

Tator Tot Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Tator Tot'

Zones 4–7· 63 saves· from $27

Sherwood Frost Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'

Zones 4–7· 60 saves

Wansdyke Silver American Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Wansdyke Silver'

Zones 4–7· 60 saves

Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Yellow Ribbon'

Zones 4–7· 54 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 32 Zone 4–hardy Thuja varieties. See the full Thuja list →

Thuja in Zone 4

Will Thuja survive a Zone 4 winter?

32 of the 47 Thuja varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Thuja in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Thuja is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Thuja

Every Thuja variety (47)

Thuja in other zones

More for Zone 4

See Thuja in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.