Tater Tot® Thuja occidentalis

Form, size, and landscape impact

This dwarf arborvitae grows into a low, rounded mound, typically reaching about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide in the landscape, so it never outgrows its space or turns into a towering hedge that needs constant shearing. The foliage holds a fresh, medium‑green color all year, giving you reliable winter interest and a clean, finished look along walkways, in front of taller shrubs, or as a simple row edging a patio or entry.

Because Tater Tot® keeps a tight, uniform habit, it’s ideal for creating repeatable “rhythm” in a design without the maintenance headaches of formal topiary. Use it as a low evergreen anchor in perennial beds, tucked between boulders, or in decorative pots flanking steps and porches where its small, rounded shape reads clearly from a distance.

Light, soil, and water needs

Tater Tot® Arborvitae grows well in full sun to partial shade, giving you flexibility in front yards, side yards, and lightly shaded beds. It prefers moist, well‑drained soil but adapts to a range of soil types—including clay and loam—when planted correctly and mulched to conserve moisture.

Regular watering during the first growing season is important to establish a healthy root system, especially in hotter or wind‑exposed sites. Once established, it has average water needs and benefits from a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to keep the soil evenly moist and to protect it from temperature swings.

Hardiness and reliability

As a selection of American arborvitae, Tater Tot® is well‑suited to cold climates and is reliably hardy in roughly USDA zones 3 through 7, offering dependable performance in northern and upper‑midwestern landscapes. The foliage maintains its color through winter, and the plant’s compact structure helps it shed moderate snow loads better than taller, columnar types that can splay or split.

Because it’s naturally dwarf and dense, this variety is less likely to become leggy or bare at the base when sited with enough light and not crowded by more aggressive shrubs. For gardeners who want that classic arborvitae texture without committing to a large hedge, Tater Tot® offers the “mini” version that still feels substantial in the landscape.

Maintenance and care

Tater Tot® requires minimal pruning because it naturally holds its rounded shape; any touch‑up is best done in spring once new growth begins to flush so that cuts are quickly hidden. Avoid cutting back into thick, old wood with no foliage, as arborvitae do not reliably sprout from bare interior stems.

Feed with a balanced, slow‑release fertilizer in early spring if your soil is poor, and keep the root zone evenly moist during extended dry periods, especially in the first two years. Protect new plantings from heavy salt spray along roads and from mechanical damage from snow shoveling or plowing, which can break branches or compact soil over the roots.

Best uses and design ideas

Tater Tot® Arborvitae shines as a small‑scale structure plant that works where larger shrubs overwhelm the space. Use a single plant as a soft focal point in a tight corner, group three in a triangle for a simple, polished vignette, or line a path with evenly spaced “green cushions” that stay neat without weekly clipping.

Its compact size also makes it a strong choice for containers on decks and balconies, where gardeners can enjoy evergreen color and texture without worrying about plants outgrowing their pots. Pair it with colorful seasonal annuals, dwarf grasses, or low perennials to contrast its fine, fan‑shaped foliage and rounded silhouette.