Selected by a First Editions® grower in 2017, Tall Guy® is a moderate to fast growing upright, columnar arborvitae. A better plant in production and the landscape than Emerald, maturing quickly with a single liner and no gaps in the habit from multiple leaders. Like our other new Thuja introductions, Tall Guy® was bred in Georgia and grows very well there. Happily, it doesn't mind cold winters surviving -33°F in Minnesota the winter of January 2019 without any winter burn. The same winter damaged other selections of Thuja occidentalis, some severely. Resistant to Passalora/Cercospora needle blight. Bred by Dr. John Ruter at the University of Georgia.