Great Plants for Northern Gardens: Day 26 — Techny and Technito Arborvitae
It’s happened to many gardeners and homeowners. You plant a trio of cute little shrubs in front of your house. Three years later, you’re hacking your way through the brush to get to the door. What happened? Nothing. You’re shrubs just grew to their intended size, and like children that go from pint-sized to six-footers in a flash, it seems to happen overnight.
When planning a landscape one of the most important considerations is the mature size of the shrubs, trees and perennials. Shrubs especially can get out of hand with unsightly results. Choosing the right-sized plant from the outset will save time and labor later.
Depending on the situation, First Editions® Techny™ and Technito™ arborvitae can be great plants for northern gardens. These evergreen shrubs add year-round interest and texture to hedges, foundation plantings and mixed borders. Both plants were developed by the local firm, Bailey Nurseries Inc., and Technito is a smaller version of Techny arborvitae.
Hardy to USDA Zone 3, Techny arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Techny’) can grow 15 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It is more resistant to winter burn and browning than other evergreens and is sometimes used to shield tender plants. While slow growing, planting a row of Techny arborvitae can make a nice privacy hedge in a few years. It handles pruning well, especially if done in spring.
Technito (Thuja occidentalis ‘BailJohn’ ) was discovered growing in a field of Techny arborvitae. Unlike its taller relative, Technito will grow only 6 feet tall, making it a delightful evergreen choice for smaller yards or spaces. While it will never overwhelm a garden bed, Technito provides structure and year-round color, making it a great statement plant for diminutive yards. It has dense foliage cover and maintains its dark green color throughout the winter.
What are your favorite evergreens?
On my goodness I finally found what this plant is!!!! I purchased my home in 2015 and it had two large shrubs in the front. I went to a local grower who wasn’t sure what it was. They suggested I look online. I’ve hunted online and had no luck. I had to really whack it down as it was killing the azaleas I love in the front. One hasn’t recovered from my assault on it. I think the porch gave its roots too much water after my jack job. So I’ve been looking to replace it. But it’s a raised garden that has terrible growing conditions. And mine is more yellow tipped new growth than this green, but now I’m thinking it’s the soil it’s in. Because it turns a bright green most of the year. I just cannot believe I found it or it’s family.
Though I hate them around my raised porch. It was easily a 8ft plant when I tried to trim it down to a manageable 5ft.
Wondering how tall Technito globes grow….
According to the supplier, it will get 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide, but it will need some pruning.
Well, I’m not sure if mine was a Techny or a Technito, but they were about 5ft tall when I purchased my home in 2015. They were 8ft tall and starving my azaleas of the little sun they do get only 4 years later.
How old is the oldest Technito known? Mature sizes cited by growers put on tags are notoriously innnacurate or just a ten year size. Is the stated size of 8 feet the 25 year size or just the ten year size?
Technito was introduced in 2004. It was a selection found at a nursery in Wisconsin. The nursery says the plant can get 15 to 20 feet high, though it is such a slow grower, it will take a long time to get there. I’ve seen size ranges from 6 to 8 to 10 to 15 feet on websites. Here’s the info from the folks who originally discovered the plant: https://www.kb.jniplants.com/technito-arborvitae-thuja-occidentalis-bail-john/ Hope this is helpful!
I will tell you that mine is about 4 years old, and its taller than me now, and I’m 6’3”. That said, its the best arborvitae I’ve ever planted. I would highly recommend it. Its pretty much bullet-proof, and my property tends to be very hard on arborvitaes, either for exposure reasons, or animal damage. Technito has withstood it all and maintains good color and great form. It gets zero winter damage in a spot where every arb I’ve ever planted has just been fried by the winter sun. I think the sizes listed online and on tags are going to need to be revised as I can see this plant getting much larger given its current growth rate. Time will tell though.
This is very promising to hear. I’m deciding between Techny and Technito for a 40′ hedge area I want to add to my house in Duluth. I’m on a busy road and a bit concerned about they being damaged by the snow from the city plow… I’m leaning towards Technito because I don’t want to prune a 20′ tall hedge in years to come…
Where can I buy them> I would like small young ones.
These are very widely available in Minnesota. Check any local nursery that offers shrubs or trees.