Comparing varieties? See Green Giant for maximum coverage or Excelsa for compact privacy

American Pillar Arborvitae

Tall, Narrow, and Perfect for Tight Spaces

Spring Planting Season Is Here — Act Now! Spring is prime time for arborvitae. Our team delivers and installs your trees with professional care, and every order of 10+ includes a FREE irrigation package valued at $500–$1,500.

 

Our trees are dug fresh and burlap-wrapped right before shipping — maximum root health, ready to take off the moment they're in the ground. Spots fill fast. Lock in your Spring planting today.

American Pillar Arborvitae is a fast-growing, columnar evergreen that brings privacy and elegance while fitting into narrow landscapes. Its vertical form makes it perfect for tight urban yards and formal hedges. Despite its slender silhouette, it delivers dense foliage and dependable year-round screening.

Quick Specs

Growth Rate:
Up to 2–3 ft per year
Mature Height:
15–20 ft tall, 3–4 ft wide
Mature Width:
12-20 ft
Hardiness Zones:
3–7
Fragrance:
Subtle cedar scent
Sunlight Preference:
Full sun to partial shade
🌲 145k+ Trees in Stock
🪏 Planting Available Locally
🚚 Ships Anywhere in USA
Contractor Grade: Our workhorse tree. Field-grown with highest
care standards. Beautiful, low-maintenance, and fast-growing. Perfect
for property lines, privacy screens, and windbreaks where quantity
and value matter most. Balled-and-burlapped.
Our highest quality tree. Cultivated with a single-leader structure to maximize beauty and consistency. Having a single trunk improves symmetry and balance, reducing the need for aesthetic pruning and removal of weakly attached limbs. These are the best option for achieving visual uniformity among multiple trees. Shipping not included.
These young, vibrant trees are nurtured with the same dedication to quality and growth as our specimen-grade, single leader trees but offer the unique advantage of being easily transportable. Ideal for urban gardens, patios, or areas where space is a premium, these trees are cultivated to thrive in their containers until they're ready to find their permanent home in your landscape. Whether you're looking to create a private oasis, enhance your outdoor decor, or simply enjoy the benefits of young, healthy trees without the wait, our container-grown trees provide the flexibility to ship smaller sizes directly to your doorstep. Embrace the beauty and practicality of these meticulously cared-for saplings, ready to grow alongside you.
 
Base price - includes plant material picked up from our farm. Shipping additional - call for quote
Planted price - includes planting, available only within 50 miles of nursery; minimum qty 10
Available within 50 miles of Galena, MD. Minimum 10 trees. Includes irrigation package ($500-$1500 value).

Or call (443) 566-2887

Note: Prices shown are for trees only (pickup or delivery). Shipping costs additional - call for quote.

Landscape Professional?

Partner with us to elevate your next project.

Exclusive trade privileges with tailored sourcing and supplying with dedicated support. Open exclusively to accredited professionals. Please provide your business license or tax ID to establish your account.

Rolling Fields Tree Farm is a trusted partner for wholesalers across the Mid-Atlantic. Our Green Giant Arborvitae trees are grown with care and are ideal for large-scale projects.

Call Or Text

Call (443) 566-2887
Text (443) 566-2887

Why American Pillar is Perfect for Narrow Spaces

13+ years of growing the Mid-Atlantic's best privacy trees

📏
Slim Profile
Only 3–4 feet wide at maturity, ideal for narrow property lines, tight spaces, and urban yards. Grows tall without taking up valuable horizontal space.
🌲
Dense Privacy
Tight scale foliage creates an effective screen year round. Columnar form allows close planting (2.5–3 feet apart) for seamless privacy walls in compact footprints.
🦌
Deer & Pest Resistant
Naturally resistant to browsing wildlife and common arborvitae pests. Your hedge stays healthy and full without constant intervention.
⛈️
Storm Resistant
Upright, tightly knit branching sheds snow and ice effectively. Sturdy root system anchors trees during high winds despite a slim profile.
✂️
Low Maintenance
Naturally columnar shape requires minimal pruning to maintain form. Hardy and adaptable once established, perfect for busy homeowners.
🏙️
Urban Friendly
Grows 2–3 feet per year reaching 15–20 feet in height. Perfect for formal hedges, side yards, driveway borders, and anywhere width is at a premium.
Vertical Privacy for Tight Spaces
American Pillar's slim columnar form delivers height and screening without consuming yard space. Perfect for narrow side yards, urban properties, and formal hedges where every foot counts.

Call (443) 566-2887
Hassle-Free Ordering
The journey from here to privacy on your property is simple and easy.
  • ✓ Fill out form or call us
  • ✓ We call back with pricing & schedule delivery
  • ✓ Ships anywhere in the US
  • ✓ Professional installation within 50 miles of nursery

How to Use American Pillars in Your Landscape

Single Rows for Tight Spaces

When space is tight but privacy is essential, American Pillar Arborvitae is unmatched. Its tall, narrow growth habit allows you to plant them closer together—perfect for slim property lines, side yards, or along driveways. In a single row, planted about 2.5–3 feet on center, they quickly form a solid, upright wall of green.

Staggered Rows for a Decorative Look

For a more layered, decorative look, consider a staggered row. Plant the back row about 3–4 feet from the front row and space trees 3–4 feet apart within each row. This layout adds depth to your screen while keeping the footprint compact—ideal for formal hedges or urban landscapes.

Lone thuja green giant arborvitae tree in field with distant deciduous tree line and blue sky
Green giant arborvitae hedge row with tall columnar shape viewed diagonally
Well pruned green giant arborvitae hedge row
Green giant arborvitae hedge row in front of cabin showing broad dense growth
Thuja green giant arborvitae hedge row blocking view of yard from street

Complete Specifications

Scientific Name
Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'
Shape
Tall and narrow, columnar
Growth Rate
Up to 2–3 ft per year
Shipping Size
7'-8' balled & burlapped
Mature Size
15–20 ft tall, 3–4 ft wide
Planting Spacing
2.5–3 ft apart for hedge; 3–4 ft in staggered rows
Leaf Type/Arrangement
Flat sprays with tight-scale foliage, more compact than Green Giants
Fragrance
Subtle cedar scent
Color
Deep green foliage with reddish-brown bark
Soil pH
Acidic (<6.0) or neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil Type
Occasionally wet, good drainage with high organic matter
Sunlight Preference
Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness Zones
3–7
Deer Resistant
Generally well-tolerated by browsing wildlife
Blocks Noise
Full growth habit diffuses sound waves year-round
Low Maintenance
Hardy, retains shape naturally with minimal trimming
Uses
Privacy, Hedge, Narrow Spaces, Formal Screens, Urban Backyards

FAQs

How fast does American Pillar Arborvitae grow?
American Pillar can grow up to 2–3 feet per year under the right conditions, similar to Green Giant in its early years. Its columnar shape means it fills in vertically without taking up much horizontal space.
What's the difference between American Pillar and Green Giant Arborvitae?
Both are hardy, fast-growing evergreens, but American Pillar is much narrower, only 3–4 feet wide at maturity, compared to the Green Giant's 12–15 feet. It's designed for tight spaces, formal hedges, and urban yards where a wide spread isn't practical.
Is American Pillar Arborvitae a Thuja?
Yes. American Pillar is a cultivar of Thuja occidentalis, also known as Eastern Arborvitae, specifically selected for its tall, narrow growth habit.
Do you have American Pillar seedlings?
No. We sell larger, balled & burlapped trees that provide immediate landscape impact and establish quickly.
Do you sell American Pillar seeds?
No. Seeds are not an effective way to create a uniform hedge or privacy screen. We supply only established trees for best results.
When is the best time to prune American Pillar Arborvitae?
Minimal pruning is needed. If shaping is desired, prune in late spring or early summer after new growth has emerged. Avoid cutting back into old wood.
What type of soil does American Pillar need?
It grows best in well-drained soils rich in organic matter but adapts to a variety of soil types. Avoid sites with consistently soggy ground.
Can American Pillar grow in acidic soil?
Yes. It tolerates acidic soils (below 6.0) and neutral soils (6.0–8.0).
Will you plant the trees for me?
Yes. We offer professional installation within 50 miles of our farm in Galena, MD, and for orders of 10 or more trees, we include an irrigation system to ensure proper watering during establishment.
How big does American Pillar get?
It typically reaches 15–20 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide at maturity.
Can American Pillar grow in rocky soil?
Yes, provided there is good drainage and the planting site is not compacted or waterlogged.
American Pillar vs. Green Giant — Which should I choose?
Choose American Pillar if you want a tall, narrow screen that fits into tight spaces or formal designs. Choose Green Giant if you need the widest, tallest living barrier possible. Both grow quickly and resist pests, deer, and most diseases.

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