The new Pancake Arborvitae from the Southern Living Plant Collection is a little something different for your landscape or garden! Spring through summer sees sage green, pointed scale-like foliage. Afterward, the Pancake Arborvitae’s foliage turns to a crisp blue through winter. This dynamic color change comes at the best possible time, as it remains consistent with the cool color tones of the winter season and provides additional seasonal interest.
This shrub features a naturally compact and rounded growth habit. Furthermore, the Pancake Arborvitae only reaches 12-18″ H x 2-3′ W. No pruning required! Therefore, low-maintenance lovers will be free to leave their shears in the shed.
Beyond the foliage, the Pancake Arborvitae is notably disease and pest resistant! Couple this with impressive cold hardiness and drought tolerance once established and you’ve got quite a hardy low-growing shrub on your hands!
Try it as an accent, border, container planting, groundcover, low-hedge, mass-planting, or in a rock garden.
Hardy from USDA Zones 4-8.
Pancake Arborvitaes grow best in Full Sun, 6+ hours a day. Gardeners in the southern U.S. should shield this variety from the afternoon sun, which is particularly intense. Instead, plant it where it will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.
Water several times a week as a new planting. Check frequently to ensure that your soil is neither drying or staying soggy. Consequently, this will allow the roots to grow deeper, and pull water that would be normally inaccessible. After the first growing season, you can cut back on supplemental watering.
Plant the Pancake Arborvitae in well-draining garden soil for best results.
Fertilize with a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer every few months starting in spring. This will promote new growth and the overall health of your plant.
The Pancake Arborvitae has a spicy cousin, the Fire Chief Arborvitae.
For a seamless planting, space your Pancake Arborvitae 2-3 feet apart from plant center to plant center. For space between plantings, plant them 2-3+ feet apart.
Check out other Cold Hardy varieties from Southern Living Plants
8 more Low-maintenance plant selections!
Susan (verified owner) –
I’m so impressed with these plants, I couldn’t be happier!
Christine Sumner (verified owner) –
Wonderful plants, excited about the size and condition upon arrival! I will be back
Kelly (verified owner) –
Ordered 3. All healthy and hydrated. Very good size, too – ordered different shrubs from elsewhere and those ones were dinky in comparison. I would order from Plants by Mail again.
Paul Butts (verified owner) –
Love the color and texture! As always plants arrived in excellent condition!
Carole C (verified owner) –
I was looking for a low maintenance, evergreen shrub with a small compact habit when I discovered the Pancake Arborvitae online and ordered 7 of the 2.5 QT size. The delivery was quick and the plants were well packaged for shipment and they arrived in excellent condition. I got them in the ground immediately and the texture and contrast they add to a grouping of other evergreen plants on a peninsula which includes Elijah Blue Fescue and Obsession Nandina is spectacular. I would definitely recommend
Debbie (verified owner) –
Ordered 7 plants, all came healthy and well packed. Just ordered 3 more, very pleased with Plants by Mail
Paula (verified owner) –
Beautiful plants, big and healthy looking. These pancake arborvitaes look absolutely beautiful after planting. After previous problems ordering plants through the mail, I was a little apprehensive, but this was a very positive experience. Will order from Plants By Mail again.
Dustin Earls (verified owner) –
Like another reviewer, my plant arrived crispy and brown with a few blue-green spots on it. It has since died completely not even 1 month later. The other plants I ordered are fine.
Christy Miller –
Good morning. I am sorry to hear of your experience. Customer service is reaching out to you regarding your concern. Please check your email – Christy
Iris (verified owner) –
I’m very pleased with the Pancake Arborvitaes. The plants arrived on time and in great condition. I will purchase from Plants By Mail again.
Brenda (verified owner) –
I ordered 4 plants and this is the one I was most excited to get and most wanted. It arrived well packaged but the top of the plant was crispy brown. I would never buy a plant that looked like this. So disappointed. I don’t think this damage could have happened in transit. Hope it survives.
Dani Castaneda (verified owner) –
The packaging of the five pancake arborvitaes were impeccable. The plastic bag with secured string held the moisture in even on my West facing porch in Texas until I came home from work in the evening. I immediately opened them and went to place them in a flat of water but their soil was still moist. I love these plants and am so grateful to Plants By Mail for their professional handling and care in their products. This was not the first order from them and will certainly not be the last. Thank you Plants By Mail. Your plants arrive in better shape and with whiter roots than plants at our local nurseries!
Kathy Zillmann (verified owner) –
Cute little accent bush! Arrived in great condition!
Cindy (verified owner) –
Plants came quickly and arrived in great condition. Plants were packaged well. I would definitely recommend buying plants from them.
ZDarrell Johnson (verified owner) –
Plants arrived in great condition. Package protected the shrubs very well! This was my second order, so obvious I was pleased!
Christine Nicholson (verified owner) –
It shipped quickly but severely brown all over, contacted customer service, saw the photo proof id sent, said plant shouldn’t have been sent like that, apologized & gave refund.
Jules (verified owner) –
I ordered 3 of the pancake arborvitae in the middle of winter in NJ and they look great! I’m keeping them watered occasionally in the garage until it warms up a little but I can’t wait for spring to plant them out. The packaging was great and shipping was fast.
Dale (verified owner) –
A beautiful plant to add to your landscape. These folks know how to ship plants, arrived in perfect condition.
Joanne Nguyen (verified owner) –
Plants came first and were quite healthy! Definitely will be ordering from them in the future
Anne Danosky (verified owner) –
I order a lot of plants by mail and I was very impressed by the size and condition of the shrubs I received. The packing was impressive too.
Jessica (verified owner) –
I purchased four ‘Pancake’ Arborvitae shrubs and was really impressed with their size and condition. I will definitely order from this site again.
Merle (verified owner) –
Very happy with my purchase. The plants were moist, good sized and healthy. Thanks so much!