Home and Garden Landscapes have employed Green Giants in many landscapes as a successful screen and to enhance privacy. If you have the room for this spreading beauty, it is an ideal solution for many screening challenges. Developed by crossing the Western Red Cedar and Leyland Cypress, this plant has the durability and root strength of the Western Red Cedar while capturing the fast growth of Leylands making it an ideal screening choice in many situations. It has a reasonable amount of shade tolerance making it suitable in semi-shade and full sun locations. Deer seem to mostly avoid this plant although there is some susceptibility to bagworms. This plant requires a well-drained location to thrive.
Green Giant is a great choice for evergreen screening on properties that have the room for it’s wide spread. From full-sun to partial shade, this coniferous evergreen is hard to beat. Created by crossing Leyland Cypress and Western Red Cedar, this unique plant combines some of the positive attributes of both of its parents while leaving behind some of the negative traits of Leyland Cypress.
Green Giant is fast-growing with a strong root system which eliminates the problem Leyland Cypress has with its tendency to blow over in storms and heavy ice and snow. The plants inherited the uniformity of the Western Red Cedar and are more tolerant of bag worms which plaque Leyland Cypress as well.
After its introduction, deer and bag worms largely left Green Giant alone. Reports are now coming in that indicate the deer are warming up to the taste of Green Giants and some trees have been affected by bagworms, particularly if they are stressed.
That aside, it is a great screening plant and we highly recommend you consider it if you have the room. Trees can spread 10 or more feet in width at the base and can easily reach 30 foot plus tall.
