Minnesota's Fastest-Growing Columnar Privacy Hedge

American Pillar Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar') is the fastest-growing columnar arborvitae available — putting on 2 to 3 feet of height per year once established, yet staying narrow enough at 3–4 feet wide to fit tight property lines. Reliable to -40°F, evergreen year-round, and far more uniform than 'Green Giant' in tight hedge rows. Whether you're blocking neighbors in Edina, screening a backyard fence in Maple Grove, or framing a Plymouth driveway, American Pillar delivers a 15-foot wall of privacy in 5 to 7 years — faster than almost any other evergreen rated for Minnesota.

American Pillar Arborvitae Plant Details

American Pillar Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Property-Line Privacy Hedge in Tight Spaces

American Pillar's narrow 3–4 foot mature width is its killer feature for Twin Cities lots, where fences sit 5 feet from property lines and you can't afford a 12-foot-wide 'Techny' bulge. Space plants 30–36 inches on center for a fully closed hedge in 4–6 years. A 60-foot run takes about 22 plants. Pairs well with 'Techny' Arborvitae behind for a layered windbreak in larger yards.

Driveway and Front-Yard Accent Columns

A pair of American Pillars flanking a driveway entrance creates instant architectural punctuation that stays evergreen through Minnesota's 5-month brown season. Because the form is naturally columnar, no shearing is needed to keep that vertical line. The deep green color reads cleanly against red brick, white siding, or stained cedar.

Wind Block on Exposed Boulevard Strips

On east- and north-facing yards in suburbs like Woodbury, Lakeville, and Eden Prairie where winter winds scour exposed lots, American Pillar holds up better than most narrow conifers because the dense scaled foliage doesn't shed water-stressed inner branches like spruce or pine. Plant in groups of 5–7 with the leeward side mulched heavily for the first two winters.

Best Time to Plant American Pillar Arborvitae in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like American Pillar Arborvitae. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical.

Spring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground or frost-heaving will kill new roots.

How to Plant American Pillar Arborvitae

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x).
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a "container" effect that traps water around the roots.
4. Spacing — 30–36 inches apart for closed privacy hedge (60 ft run = ~22 plants); 4–5 feet for individual specimens or driveway columns.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters.

Watering American Pillar Arborvitae in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter.
• One deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation.

After Year One

• Established American Pillar Arborvitae rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F).
• Soak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest.

Drip Irrigation in Minnesota

Drip works well for American Pillar Arborvitae if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split.

Will American Pillar survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes. It's rated to USDA zone 3, which is hardier than the entire Twin Cities metro (zone 4b–5a). No burlap wrap is needed for established plants. First-year plants benefit from a deep mulch ring to prevent frost-heaving while the roots establish.

How is American Pillar different from 'Green Giant' or 'Emerald Green'?

'Green Giant' grows even faster but reaches 30–40 feet wide at maturity — way too big for most Minnesota yards, and zone 5 hardy at the edge. 'Emerald Green' is narrower and slower (1 ft per year, 12–15 ft mature). American Pillar splits the difference: fast like 'Green Giant', narrow like 'Emerald Green', and zone 3 hardy. The best modern choice for fast Twin Cities privacy.

Will deer eat American Pillar?

Deer browse all arborvitae in winter when food is scarce. In high-pressure suburbs (Minnetonka, Wayzata, Chanhassen), expect heavy browsing the first 2 winters — protect with snow fence, deer netting, or rotating repellent sprays. Mature plants over 5 feet are usually browsed only on lower limbs, which doesn't kill the plant.

How fast does American Pillar actually grow?

2–3 feet per year in Minnesota once roots are established (after year 1). A 10-gallon plant at purchase (~5 ft tall) reaches 15 feet in 5 years and 20–25 ft mature size in 8–10 years. Year 1 growth is slower (often only 6–12 inches) while the plant focuses on root development.

Does it tolerate clay soil?

Yes, but with caveats. Heavy Minneapolis-area clay-loam holds water in spring and risks root rot if water pools. Mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade and amend the planting hole with 20–30% compost. Avoid sites with standing water after rainstorms.

You May Also Like

• 'Techny' Arborvitae — Wider companion (10–12 ft) for a two-tier privacy screen behind American Pillar.
• Black Hills Spruce — Tall (30+ ft) Minnesota-native evergreen for backyard windbreak corners.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — Dwarf 3–4 ft globe form for foundation plantings under American Pillar's vertical line.
• Limelight Hydrangea — Deciduous accent that pairs the lime-green summer blooms against American Pillar's dark green backdrop.

How Many American Pillar Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a fully closed privacy hedge, space plants about 32 inches on center:

As driveway columns or single accents, space plants 4–5 feet apart, or set a matched pair to flank an entrance.

American Pillar Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fast new growth extends the column — 2 to 3 feet of height once established.
• Summer: Dense, soft scaled foliage forms a solid green wall of privacy and wind block.
• Fall: Holds rich green as deciduous plants color and drop; no bronzing.
• Winter: Keeps deep green color without burning through Minnesota's long winter; guard young plants from deer browse.

At a Glance

✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest   ✔ Drought-Tolerant (once established)

Plant It With

• Techny Arborvitae — a wider companion (10–12 ft) for a two-tier privacy screen behind American Pillar.
• Black Hills Spruce — a tall Minnesota-native evergreen for backyard windbreak corners.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — a dwarf globe for foundation plantings under American Pillar's vertical line.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — a narrow, slower upright to mix into tighter sections of the hedge.

Is American Pillar Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

American Pillar is the top pick for fast, narrow evergreen privacy in full sun on well-drained ground — a 15-foot wall in 5 to 7 years that only stays 3 to 4 feet wide. Not a fit if your site has heavy deer pressure you can't protect against, or stays wet — in soggy clay, mound-plant; in high deer-pressure yards, plan on netting or repellent for the first couple of winters.