Botanical Name: Platycladus orientalis 'Golden Rocket' (=Thuja)
Common Name: Conifer

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Exotic
Evergreen/Deciduous : Evergreen
Plant Type : Conifer
Flower Colour : None
Foliage Colour : Lime green and yellow
Best Season : Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter
Light : Sun
Hardiness : Hardy
Attributes : Provides year round interest
Height (m) : 4
Spread (m) : 0.80
    
Platycladus orientalis 'Golden Rocket' was previously known as Thuja orientalis "Golden Rocket'. It is one of the most popular conifers because of its elegant columnar shape and fine colour that becomes a rich golden bronze in winter. Quick growing. Superb, versatile conifer that is easy to grow. Well suited to avenue planting due to its narrow habit or used against walls as a screen. Often used in small and townhouse gardens.

 

Notes : Conifers are constant, lending structure and depth of colour to the garden in every season of the year. Their dense evergreen foliage has an amazing range of different sizes, shapes and colours.

 

The soil should be well drained and reasonably fertile - add plenty of slightly acid compost to sandy or clay soils to improve their texture. Will thrive in an open, sunny to lightly shaded position. The golden varieties need full sun to show their best colours, but the blues and the silvers are often better in semi-shade, particularly in the hotter areas. Keep well watered during dry spells, especially in summer. Little pruning is necessary. Propagate by means of tip cuttings (5 - 7.5 centimetres long) taken during mid to late winter. Root best in sharp sand, under mist with bottom heat if possible.