Arborvitae - Plant

Arborvitae was the first tree from North America to be introduced to Europe when French explorers brought the tree to Paris. The tree became a valuable asset when, on one of Jacques Cartier’s long sea voyages in 1536, it was discovered that a tea made from the bark and leaves cured scurvy.

Common name: American Arbor-Vitae, Arborvitae, Eastern Arborvitae, Siberian Arborvitae, Northern White Cedar
Color: Brown
Bloom time: Non-flowering
Height: 20.00 to 40.00 feet
Difficulty level: easy to grow

Planting & Care
Arborvitate are very tolerant plants that require no pruning and have naturally graceful pyramid shapes. While the plants are prey to few insects, they are prone to spider mite infestations during hot, dry weather. Deep watering and spraying off the foliage can minimize these pests’ presence.
Apply a three inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree and fertilize in spring with a good all purpose landscape fertilizer.
Novice gardeners will be particularly rewarded when planting an arborvitae, due to their low maintenance and uncomplaining growth patterns.

Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

Soil: well-drained soil

Water: Medium

Temprature: medium moisture

Fertilizer: apply any organic fertilizer

Care:

• Seed best sown when ripe in the autumn in a cold frame.
• Stored seed germinates best if given a short cold stratification.
• It can be sown in a cold frame in late winter.
• When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter

Special Feature:
Leaves are scale like and lie on one plane
Use
Medicinal use:

• American arbor-vitae was much used by many native North American Indian tribes as a medicine to treat fevers, coughs, headaches, swollen hands and rheumatic problems

Note:
for medicinal use, please consult appropriate doctor / physian befor use.

Reference:
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/arborvitae/growing-arborvitae-trees.htm http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c246 http://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/Arborvitae.htm