A Golden Globe Arborvitae with a Coppery Fall Glow

Autumn Moon Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Autumn Moon') is a compact, rounded evergreen prized for its color show. Soft golden-yellow foliage warms to coppery-orange as fall arrives and holds through early winter. Staying a tidy 3-4 feet tall and wide, it is a low-maintenance pop of color for foundation beds and smaller Twin Cities yards.

Autumn Moon Arborvitae Plant Details

Autumn Moon Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Foundation and Accent Beds with Changing Color

Autumn Moon is never static — its golden summer foliage warms to a striking coppery-orange through fall and winter, so a single plant gives a foundation bed a focal point that evolves with the seasons. Use it where that color shift will be noticed, framing an entry or anchoring a corner in Edina, Plymouth, or Woodbury, and it never outgrows its tidy 3-to-4-foot globe.

Small-Yard Color and Mixed Borders

Its compact size suits the smaller beds of townhomes and city lots, and the warm tones pair beautifully with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming perennials, and dark green or blue evergreens for contrast. Tuck single plants among perennials for an evergreen anchor that carries warm color through the season in Maple Grove and St. Paul.

Fall and Winter Glow

Autumn Moon does its best work when the rest of the garden is winding down — the copper-orange peaks in late fall and holds through winter, glowing against snow and bare branches. For a landscape that needs life in the cold months, few small evergreens deliver this kind of seasonal warmth.

Best Time to Plant Autumn Moon Arborvitae in Minnesota

As an evergreen, Autumn Moon establishes best when planted in late August through mid-September. The soil is still warm enough to drive root growth, while cooler air eases transplant stress and gives the plant six to eight weeks to settle in before the ground freezes around mid-November. Spring (late April through May) is the solid second choice, leaving a full season to root before the first winter. Avoid the heat of midsummer, and never plant after mid-October — evergreens set out too late are prone to winter desiccation before their roots can support them.

How to Plant Autumn Moon Arborvitae

1. Dig wide, not deep. Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the top of the root ball should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider.
2. Pick a bright spot. Autumn Moon colors best in full sun but tolerates part shade down to about four hours; the more sun, the richer the gold and copper. Avoid standing water — if drainage is poor, mound-plant a few inches high.
3. Backfill with amended soil. Mix your native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost to hold moisture and loosen heavy clay; this species rewards a richer backfill than junipers do.
4. Space for the use. Set plants about 3 feet apart for a low mass or color band, or use single plants as accents.
5. Build a water basin. Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to channel water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk.
6. Mulch with bark. Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches off the trunk, to lock in the moisture arborvitae crave. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and gives no winter insulation.

Watering Autumn Moon Arborvitae in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).
• Month 1–2: Every 2 to 3 days — arborvitae need more consistent moisture than junipers.
• Month 3–6: Every 4 to 6 days during active growth; don't let the root zone dry out.
• Stop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) — then give one last deep soak in early December, especially if fall was dry, to limit winter burn.

After Year One

Water deeply through the first two seasons while the plant establishes. After that, Autumn Moon needs supplemental water mainly during dry spells — a deep soak every 7 to 10 days when there's been two-plus weeks without rain. It is less drought-tolerant than juniper or spruce, so don't let it bake, and always finish with that early-December deep watering before freeze.

Will Autumn Moon Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), so cold is no concern. The coppery-orange winter color is the variety doing exactly what it should, not stress; it shifts back toward gold as the weather warms in spring. A deep December watering and, for newly planted globes in exposed spots, a light burlap screen the first winter help limit any harsh browning.

Is it deer-resistant?

No — arborvitae are a favorite winter browse for Minnesota deer, including Autumn Moon, especially in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. Its small size makes protection easy, though: a quick burlap or netting wrap, or a rotated repellent, gets it through winter. Plan on protecting it the first 2 to 3 winters if deer visit your yard.

What makes its color different from Golden Globe?

Where Golden Globe and Lemon Burst stay gold, Autumn Moon changes through the year — gold in summer, then a warm coppery-orange in fall and winter. If you want a small evergreen that marks the seasons rather than holding one shade, Autumn Moon is the pick.

You May Also Like

• Golden Globe Arborvitae — a steady warm-gold globe for those who prefer one consistent color.
• Lemon Burst Arborvitae — a bright lemon-yellow globe for the most vivid gold.
• Planet Earth Arborvitae — a deep green globe that sets off the warm tones as a cool contrast.
• Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae — a soft, feathery dwarf globe for low foundation and border structure.

How Many Autumn Moon Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a low foundation band or color mass, space Autumn Moon about 3 feet apart so the globes just touch at maturity:

As an accent, a single globe at an entry or bed corner is enough — or flank a front step with a matched pair, 4+ feet from the foundation.

Autumn Moon Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Copper tones soften back to fresh golden-yellow as new growth flushes.
• Summer: A tidy, soft-textured gold globe that brightens green foundation plantings without any pruning.
• Fall: The signature shift — gold warms to a rich coppery-orange just as deciduous neighbors drop their leaves.
• Winter: Holds that copper glow against snow all winter; the color is natural, not damage, and reverses in spring.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Golden Globe Arborvitae — steady warm gold beside Autumn Moon's shifting copper.
• Lemon Burst Arborvitae — the most vivid lemon-gold globe for a brighter trio.
• Planet Earth Arborvitae — deep green contrast that makes the warm tones pop.
• Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae — a soft, feathery green dwarf globe for low border rhythm.

Is Autumn Moon Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Ideal for a sunny or lightly shaded foundation bed with decent drainage where you want year-round color in a small footprint — it never needs shearing and handles any Minnesota winter. It's not a fit if deer browse your yard unprotected (arborvitae is their favorite winter snack — plan on wrapping or repellent the first few winters), or if the site bakes hot and dry; it wants more consistent moisture than a juniper.