At James River Nurseries, we’re always on the lookout for standout plants that bring beauty, functionality, and resilience to Central Virginia landscapes. We reached out to our expert Purchaser, Donna, and Doug,Professional Landscape Architect and JRN's Sales Director, who attends all the industry conferences, lectures, and events, to get their insight on some of the best new and highlighted plants. Their first choice in plants to highlight? The Thuja ‘Junior Giant’.
This compact evergreen tree offers impressive benefits while maintaining a manageable size, making it an excellent addition to residential and commercial landscapes alike. What truly makes the ‘Junior Giant’ shine is the vigor it has as a hybrid. Its ‘standishii’ parentage enhances its adaptability and resilience. As a hybrid, it exhibits superior qualities compared to its parent species, including remarkable growth rates of 3 to 5 feet per year under optimal conditions. Additionally, these hybrids possess enhanced resistance to diseases and pests, making them a superb choice for most spaces.
What Makes the Thuja ‘Junior Giant’ Special?
The Thuja ‘Junior Giant’ is a compact alternative to its well-known cousin, the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. It features deep green foliage that remains vibrant year-round, and it naturally maintains a conical shape with minimal pruning.
· Mature Size: 15-20 feet tall, with a spread of only 8-10 feet
· Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year under optimal conditions
· Low Maintenance: Requires little pruning and is deer-resistant
· Hardiness Zones: 5-8 (perfectly suited for Central Virginia)
Why is the ‘Junior Giant’ Ideal for Central Virginia?
1. Perfect for Smaller Yards & Landscapes Designed and Installed by JRN
Not every homeowner has the space for towering privacy trees. The ‘JuniorGiant’ provides an excellent screen without overwhelming a landscape, making it ideal for compact spaces while still offering dense,lush greenery. Whether incorporated into a JRN-designed and installed buffer or custom landscape, our team ensures it complements your outdoor space perfectly.
2. Home-Grown at Our Montpelier & Ashland Farms—For Our Installations Only
The ‘Junior Giant’ is grown right here at our Montpelier and Ashland farms, ensuring high-quality, mature plants ready for installation in your custom-designed JRN landscape. As a full-service landscape provider, James River Nurseries does not sell plants directly to the public. Instead, we source, grow, and professionally install these trees as part of our turn-key landscaping services.
3. Low Maintenance & Disease Resistance
Thanks to its hybrid vigor, this tree exhibits exceptional resilience to diseases and pests. Its ‘standishii’ parentage contributes to its adaptability and enhanced durability compared to other arborvitae varieties.
4. Fast-Growing Privacy Screen or Windbreak
For homeowners or businesses looking for a quick and effective solution for privacy or wind protection, the ‘Junior Giant’ is a fantastic choice. Unlike slower-growing evergreens, this tree can gain 3 to 5 feet per year in ideal conditions, ensuring rapid coverage.
James River Nurseries: Your Local Source for Sourcing, Growing, and Installing Thuja ‘Junior Giant’
At James River Nurseries, we grow Junior Giant hybrids right in our Montpelier and Ashland farms, ensuring high-quality, mature plants ready for professional installation. We are not a retail nursery; we specialize in sourcing, growing, and planting these trees as part of our expertly designed landscapes. Whether you’re looking to create a privacy hedge, windbreak,or stunning year-round greenery, our team is here to handle the entire process—from selection to installation.
Other Trees That Top Donna and Doug’s List This Year:
Magnolia virginiana Keltyk® (Sweetbay Magnolia)
· A semi-evergreen magnolia, providing year-round interest with glossy green leaves and silver undersides.
· Produces fragrant, creamy-white flowers that bloom from late spring into summer.
· Tolerates wet soils and is an excellent option for rain gardens or low-lying areas.
Nyssa sylvatica Red Splyndor™ (Black Gum)
· Known for its stunning red fall foliage,one of the most vibrant native trees for seasonal color.
· Attracts pollinators and wildlife,making it a great addition to naturalized and native landscapes.
· Adaptable to a variety of soils,including wet conditions, making it an excellent choice for resilience in Central Virginia.
Taxodium distichum Uptyn™ (Bald Cypress)
· A deciduous conifer with delicate, feathery foliage that turns a beautiful copper-bronze in the fall.
· Highly adaptable to wet or dry soils,making it a versatile choice for a range of landscapes.
· Resistant to flooding and drought,making it an excellent pick for challenging environments.
Thuja plicata Everyst® (Western Cedar / Arborvitae Everyst)
· A fast-growing evergreen perfect for privacy screens or windbreaks.
· Extremely cold-hardy with a dense,lush appearance that stays vibrant year-round.
· Low maintenance and disease-resistant,offering long-term reliability for landscapes.
Kashyma™ Cryptomeria
· Dense growth with minimal interior browning of needles, unlike Yoshino and Radicans varieties.
· Improved heat and drought tolerance,making it an excellent choice for Central Virginia’s climate.
· Brighter green needles compared to other Cryptomeria, maintaining a lush and vibrant look year-round.
No matter what tree you end up going with, with over 40 years of experience, James River Nurseries isn’t just about expert growing advice—we’re your one-stop shop for sourcing, growing, and installing top-tier trees in expertly designed landscapes. Let us bring beauty and functionality to your outdoor space.
Ready to enhance your landscape? Click Here to Contact James River Nurseries today!
Want to see more of our work? Click Here to view our Portfolio!
