It is very versatile and can be used as a specimen or as a background plant to other plantings. Green Giant' has a naturally uniform growth habit and exceptional winter color. It also roots readily from cuttings taken at any time of the year. Thanks to the assistance of Robert Marquard, director of research at the Holden Arboretum in Mentor, Ohio, a series of protein analyses were performed that determined its identity. Green Giant' has scalelike foliage in flattened sprays, coarse in texture, glossy green above and paler beneath.
Branches are somewhat thickened, horizontal to ascending with dense, alternate branchlets.
They are borne upright on the stem and persist through the winter months. Green at first, the cones turn brown at maturity. Green Giant' has no serious pests or disease problems, grows rapidly, has a rich green color and outstanding winter color, and nurseries who tested it found it as a good substitute to Leyland cypress. A large specimen at the U.S. National Arboretum, taken from the original plant sent from Denmark in 1967 by D.T. Poulsen, is an outstanding evergreen about 30 feet tall. We believe its new and correct name reflects the beauty, utility and giant appeal of this exceptional conifer.