How Long To Grow Arborvitae From Seed

Growing arborvitae from seed takes patience, typically anywhere from 1 to 3 years before the seedlings are ready for their permanent home in your landscape.

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This timeline might surprise you if you’re used to buying nursery-grown plants that are already several feet tall.

But when you ask how long to grow arborvitae from seed, the answer depends on the species, your climate, and how much care you provide during each stage.

Seeds need a cold stratification period to break dormancy, then they germinate slowly, and the young seedlings grow at a modest pace for the first couple of seasons.

In this post we’ll break down the exact timeline for growing arborvitae from seed, what influences the speed, and the best practices to get those tiny seeds to become sturdy saplings.

Let’s dig into the details so you know exactly what to expect when you decide to grow arborvitae from seed.

How Long to Grow Arborvitae from Seed

The straightforward answer to how long to grow arborvitae from seed is that you’ll need about 12 to 36 months to produce a transplant-ready seedling.
 
Here’s the breakdown of that timeline at each stage:
 

1. Cold Stratification Takes 30 to 90 Days

Arborvitae seeds have a built-in dormancy that mimics winter conditions.
 
To wake them up you must store the seeds in a moist, cold environment for 30 to 90 days.
 
This stratification process is critical for how long to grow arborvitae from seed because without it germination can be very low or delayed for months.
 
You can do this by placing seeds in damp sand or a paper towel inside a sealed bag and keeping them in your refrigerator at around 34–41°F (1–5°C).
 
During this period the seeds think they’ve survived winter and are ready to sprout when temperatures rise.
 

2. Germination Occurs Over 2 to 8 Weeks

After stratification, sow the seeds in a seed-starting mix and keep them consistently moist and warm (around 65–70°F or 18–21°C).
 
Germination can begin as early as 2 weeks, but some seeds may take up to 8 weeks to emerge.
 
This slow and uneven emergence is normal when you grow arborvitae from seed, so don’t be discouraged if only a few sprouts appear at first.
 
Light also helps germination, so press seeds lightly into the surface rather than burying them deep.
 

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3. Seedling Growth to Transplant Size Takes 9 to 18 Months

Once the tiny arborvitae seedlings appear, they grow very slowly during the first year.
 
In a container or seedbed, you can expect them to reach only 3 to 6 inches tall after 12 months.
 
By the second year, with good care, they may reach 12 to 18 inches and develop a strong root system.
 
This is the period that truly defines how long to grow arborvitae from seed because the seedlings need consistent watering, light fertilizer, and protection from harsh sun and wind.
 
Most home gardeners wait until the third spring before transplanting them into the ground.
 

Factors That Affect How Long to Grow Arborvitae from Seed

The timeline above can shift depending on several variables.
 
Understanding these factors helps you better predict how long to grow arborvitae from seed in your specific situation.
 

1. Arborvitae Species and Seed Source

Not all arborvitae grow at the same rate.
 
Eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) tends to be a bit faster than giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata) when starting from seed.
 
Seed collected from local trees also adapts better to your climate, which can reduce the overall time needed.
 
If you buy seeds, check the species and look for fresh seeds because older seeds lose viability and can double how long to grow arborvitae from seed.
 

2. Climate and Growing Zone

Arborvitae are hardy in zones 3 to 7, but warmer zones speed up growth while colder zones slow it down.
 
If you start seeds indoors in late winter, you can extend the growing season and shave off several months from the timeline.
 
Outdoor sowing works but may add a full year because seedlings must survive their first winter as tiny plants.
 
So when you think about how long to grow arborvitae from seed, your local climate plays a huge role.
 

3. Soil Quality and Watering Consistency

Arborvitae seedlings thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil with consistent moisture.
 
If the soil dries out frequently or is waterlogged, growth stalls and diseases like damping-off can kill young plants.
 
Using a high-quality seed-starting mix and watering from the bottom helps roots develop faster.
 
This reduces the total time you spend waiting and improves how long to grow arborvitae from seed results.
 

Steps to Successfully Grow Arborvitae from Seed

Now that you know the timeline, here’s how to make the process efficient so you don’t waste years on mistakes.
 

1. Start with Proper Stratification

Collect or purchase seeds in fall or early winter.
 
Mix them with moist sand and seal in a plastic bag.
 
Label the bag and keep it in the refrigerator for at least 60 days.
 
Check every couple weeks to ensure the sand stays damp but not soggy.
 
This step is non-negotiable when you want to grow arborvitae from seed successfully.
 

2. Sow in Trays with Bottom Heat

After stratification, sow seeds in seed trays with drainage holes.
 
Use a sterile seed-starting mix and surface-sow the seeds, covering them with a very thin layer of vermiculite.
 
Place the tray on a heat mat set to 70°F (21°C) to speed germination.
 
Keep the soil consistently moist by misting or bottom-watering.
 
Germination light is beneficial, so provide 12 to 16 hours of fluorescent or LED grow lights.
 

3. Transplant into Individual Pots After First True Leaves

Once seedlings have two to four sets of true leaves, gently transplant each one into a 4-inch pot filled with a peat-based potting mix.
 
This prevents root competition and allows each arborvitae to grow a strong, fibrous root system.
 
Keep the pots in a bright location but out of direct midday sun for the first week.
 
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
 
This stage typically happens about 8 to 12 weeks after germination.
 

4. Harden Off and Plant Outdoors in the Second Year

During the first winter, keep your arborvitae seedlings in a cold frame or unheated garage if you live in a harsh climate.
 
In spring of the second year, begin hardening them off by placing pots outdoors for a few hours each day.
 
After a week of this, transplant them into a nursery bed or large containers where they can grow for another season.
 
By the third spring they should be 12 to 18 inches tall and ready for their permanent spot.
 
This entire sequence answers how long to grow arborvitae from seed with a realistic, rewarding timeline.
 

So, How Long to Grow Arborvitae from Seed?

Growing arborvitae from seed takes approximately 1 to 3 years from stratification to transplant-ready size.

The first year is dominated by stratification and germination followed by very slow seedling development.

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The second and third years see faster growth as the root system matures and the shoots stretch upward.

If you start indoors with stratification in late fall, you might have a 6-inch seedling by the following fall and a 12- to 18-inch plant a year later.

So when someone asks how long to grow arborvitae from seed, the honest answer is: plan on at least two full growing seasons before you have something you can plant in the landscape.

With patience and proper care, you’ll eventually have beautiful arborvitae that you nurtured from a tiny seed.

Happy growing.