Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Thuja for Zone 5

46 Thuja varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

46 hardy hereof 49 Thuja totalLast frost ~early May

The Thuja that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Green Giant Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Green Giant'

Zones 5–8· 247 saves· from $12

#2 most saved

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'

Zones 4–7· 232 saves· from $20

#3 most saved

Degroot's Spire Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot'

Zones 4–7· 202 saves

Smaragd Emerald Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd Emerald'

Zones 4–7· 166 saves

American Pillar Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'

Zones 4–8· 134 saves· from $24

Eastern Arborvitae Western Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Columbia'

Zones 4–9· 111 saves

Fire Chief Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief'

Zones 4–8· 111 saves· from $18

Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Mr Bowling Ball'

Zones 4–8· 106 saves· from $22

Oriental Arborvitae Pomona

Thuja orientalis 'Pomona'

Zones 4–8· 104 saves

Tater Tot Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'TATER TOT'

Zones 4–8· 103 saves· from $22

Golden Rocket Oriental Arborvitae

Thuja orientalis 'Golden Rocket'

Zones 5–9· 94 saves

Polar Gold Thuja

Thuja occidentalis 'Polar Gold'

Zones 4–7· 88 saves· from $22

Golden Globe Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe'

Zones 4–7· 86 saves· from $40

Weeping Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Pendula'

Zones 4–8· 83 saves

Oriental Arborvitae

Thuja orientalis 'Conspicua'

Zones 4–9· 81 saves

Tator Tot Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Tator Tot'

Zones 4–7· 81 saves· from $20

Sunkist Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'

Zones 4–7· 79 saves

Woodward Globe Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Woodward Globe'

Zones 4–7· 77 saves· from $40

Eastern Arborvitae Thin Man

Thuja occidentalis 'Thin Man'

Zones 4–7· 76 saves· from $21

Little Giant Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Little Giant'

Zones 4–7· 72 saves· from $37

Eastern Arborvitae Northern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Zones 4–7· 71 saves

Sherwood Frost Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'

Zones 4–7· 71 saves

Wansdyke Silver American Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Wansdyke Silver'

Zones 4–7· 70 saves

Eastern Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis 'Sting'

Zones 4–7· 67 saves· from $22

Showing the 24 most-saved of 46 Zone 5–hardy Thuja varieties. See the full Thuja list →

Thuja in Zone 5

Will Thuja survive a Zone 5 winter?

46 of the 49 Thuja varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°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 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. 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 5?

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 (49)

Thuja in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Thuja in your Zone 5 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.

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