Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae vs Leyland Cypress
When homeowners want privacy fast, two trees usually top the list: Leyland Cypress and Thuja Green Giant. Both are fast-growing evergreens. Both create dense green screens. Both can turn an exposed yard into a more private, protected space in just a few growing seasons.
But they are not the same tree, and they are not always interchangeable.
Choosing between them comes down to your space, soil, deer pressure, climate, and how much long-term maintenance you are willing to manage. If you pick the right one for the right site, both can be excellent privacy trees. If you pick the wrong one, you may end up with crowding, browning, disease stress, or a screen that becomes too large too quickly.
Let's compare them the way a gardener actually needs to think about them.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Leyland Cypress | Thuja Green Giant |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Rate | Very fast, often 2–4 ft. per year | Very fast, often 3–5 ft. per year once established |
| Mature Size | Large; commonly 60–70 ft. tall, 10–20 ft. wide | Large; commonly 40–60 ft. tall, 12–18 ft. wide |
| Best Use | Fast large-scale privacy, windbreaks, coastal-tolerant screens | Fast privacy, windbreaks, durable large hedges |
| Deer Resistance | Deer may browse, especially in winter | Generally considered deer-resistant |
| Soil Adaptability | Tolerates many soils if well-drained | Tolerates many soils; prefers moist, well-drained soil |
| Salt Tolerance | More tolerant of salt spray | Does not tolerate salt or salt spray well |
| Disease Concerns | More prone to canker, root rot, and bagworms under stress | Generally strong disease and pest resistance |
| Pruning Needs | May need more size control | Usually keeps a more uniform shape with less pruning |
| Best Spacing | 8–12 ft. apart for screens | 5–6 ft. apart for dense screens; 8–10 ft. for a natural look |
| Hardiness | Commonly Zones 6–10 | Commonly Zones 5–8/9, depending on site |
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Growth Rate: Which One Grows Faster?
Both are fast. That is why they are so popular.
Leyland Cypress is famous for quick privacy and can grow around 2 to 4 feet per year in good conditions. It is one of the fastest screening trees available and can create a large green wall quickly.
Thuja Green Giant is also exceptionally fast, often growing 3 to 5 feet per year once established. It may not always beat Leyland in every site, but it is close enough that speed should not be the only deciding factor.
Woodie's take: If all you care about is speed, both qualify. The better question is: which one will still look good in 10 years?
Mature Size and Space
This is where the choice starts to matter.
Leyland Cypress gets big. It can reach 60 to 70 feet tall with a 10 to 20 foot spread, depending on site and care. That makes it useful for large properties, long boundaries, and areas where you need a major visual screen.
Thuja Green Giant also gets large, often reaching 40 to 60 feet tall with a broad pyramidal form, typically 12 to 18 feet wide at the base. It is not a small-space arborvitae like Emerald Green, but it generally maintains a more uniform habit and is easier to use in a planned hedge.
If your planting strip is narrow, neither may be ideal. In that case, a slimmer arborvitae, holly, or columnar evergreen from our privacy tree collection may be a better fit.
Deer Resistance
This is one of the biggest practical differences.
Thuja Green Giant is generally considered more deer-resistant than many other arborvitae, and NC State notes that it resists deer, as well as many diseases and insects. That does not mean deer will never touch it — hungry deer can sample almost anything — but Green Giant is usually a stronger choice where deer pressure is common.
Leyland Cypress is more variable. Some sources describe Leyland as deer-resistant, but NC State notes that deer can be a problem in winter. In real landscapes, deer pressure depends heavily on local populations and available food.
Woodie's take: If deer are a known issue in your neighborhood, I would generally lean toward Thuja Green Giant over Leyland Cypress.
Soil Adaptability
Both trees tolerate a range of soils, but drainage is critical.
Leyland Cypress tolerates many soil types as long as drainage is adequate. It can handle poorer soils, pollution, partial shade, and salt spray better than many evergreens, which is one reason it has been widely planted in coastal and difficult sites.
Thuja Green Giant also tolerates a wide range of soils and performs best in moist, well-drained locations. It handles periodic drought once established, but it does not tolerate salty soils or salt spray well.
Best choice for coastal salt exposure: Leyland Cypress.
Best choice for average suburban soil: Thuja Green Giant or Leyland, depending on space and disease concerns.
Hardiness Zones
Leyland Cypress is commonly recommended for Zones 6–10, making it a strong option through much of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and warmer regions.
Thuja Green Giant is commonly used in Zones 5–8/9, giving it a slightly better cold-climate range than Leyland in many areas. It is a strong pick for much of the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast, where Leyland may be less reliable.
Woodie's take: In colder regions, Green Giant usually has the edge. In warmer southern and coastal areas, Leyland may still be useful if sited correctly.
Disease and Pest Resistance
This is where Thuja Green Giant often wins long-term.
Leyland Cypress is fast and beautiful, but it has become overplanted in many areas. Under stress, it can be prone to issues such as canker, root rot, bagworms, and other pests or diseases. It also has relatively shallow roots and may be poorly adapted to hot-summer stress at some sites.
Thuja Green Giant is widely valued for its resistance to many common diseases and insects, and for maintaining a clean, uniform habit with less pruning. It is not problem-free, but it is generally easier to keep healthy in many residential landscapes.
Woodie's take: If you want a long-term, low-maintenance privacy screen, I usually give the edge to Thuja Green Giant.
Use in the Landscape
Leyland Cypress is best for large-scale privacy where speed and height matter. It is excellent for wide property lines, large backyards, commercial screening, and windbreaks where there is room for the tree to mature. Because it grows so quickly and spreads so widely, it is not the best choice for tight suburban side yards.
Thuja Green Giant is also excellent for large privacy screens and windbreaks, but it tends to feel more refined and uniform in residential hedges. It works well along property lines, behind pools, around patios, and anywhere you want a fast evergreen screen that still looks controlled.
Both trees can be planted in rows, but they look best when given enough room to breathe.
Spacing Guidelines
Spacing is one of the most important decisions you will make.
For Leyland Cypress, plant about 8 to 12 feet apart for a privacy screen. If you have room and want better airflow and long-term health, lean toward the wider end.
For Thuja Green Giant, plant about 5 to 6 feet apart for a dense screen, or 8 to 10 feet apart for a more natural, open look.
For windbreaks, consider a staggered double row. This provides better wind reduction, greater depth, and a more natural effect than a single tight line.
First-Year and Long-Term Care
Both trees need careful watering during establishment. Fast-growing evergreens may look tough, but new roots need help.
During the first growing season, water deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather and soil. A slow soak is better than a quick spray. Keep a 2–3-inch thick mulch ring around each tree, but pull the mulch away from the trunk.
During the second and third years, continue watering during dry spells. Evergreens can suffer winter burn if they go into winter dry, so a deep watering in fall before the ground freezes is especially important.
Avoid heavy fertilizing at planting. Let the trees establish roots first. If growth is weak after establishment, use a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Leyland Cypress if: you have a large space, need fast height, have good drainage, want salt-spray tolerance, and can give the trees room and airflow.
Choose Thuja Green Giant if: you want fast privacy with better disease resistance, stronger deer resistance, a more uniform hedge, and lower long-term maintenance.
Woodie's Take
Both Leyland Cypress and Thuja Green Giant can make an excellent privacy screen. But they are not identical tools.
Leyland Cypress is the fast, big, bold screen for open spaces and large properties. It gives quick coverage and can handle a range of tough conditions, especially where salt spray may be an issue.
Thuja Green Giant is the fast, durable, dependable screen for homeowners who want speed without quite as much long-term worry. It is usually the better all-around choice for many residential privacy plantings, especially where deer, disease resistance, and clean shape matter.
The right question is not "which tree is better?"
The right question is "which tree is better for your space?"
Plant the right one, space it properly, water it well for the first few seasons, and you'll have more than a hedge.
You'll have a living wall of green that makes your yard feel like home.