Fire Chief Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Congabe' FIRE CHIEF)
THOO-yah ox-ee-den-TAL-is 'Congabe' FIRE CHIEF

Evergreen Perennial Shrub in the Cupressaceae Family
 
Buy Fire Chief Arborvitae
Size Notes Price Availability
#5 gallon Field $48.23

Bright orange foliage in spring; deeper red tones in fall.

About American Arborvitaes

Often referred to as Arborvitae, Latin for “The Tree of Life.” It’s easy to imagine this nickname when the Arborvitae will stay vibrant and evergreen when almost everything else dies back for the winter - but it actually earned this title in the 1500s when it was discovered that a tea made from Arborvitae bark and leaves cured scurvy (hellooo, Vitamin C). 

While it’s certainly pretty cool that these shrubs saved lives, we love them for their reliable winter color, well-behaved growth patterns, and unfussy growing requirements. Most varieties grow quite quickly and all are very dense, making them the perfect privacy planting.

Pros

  • Evergreen
  • Can grow in a variety of soil and moisture conditions
  • Most varieties require minimal to no pruning to keep their shape
  • Excellent privacy planting

Cons

  • Require part to full sun to thrive
  • May be susceptible to winter wind burn
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 3a - 7b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Deer Resistant, Edging, Evergreen, Fast Growth Rate, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Asian Garden, Good for Borders, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Allergenic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet Site Tolerant, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
Foliage Color
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Japanese Painted Fern, Helmond Pillar Japanese Barberry, Golden Mop Japanese Falsecypress, Brilliance Japanese Shield Fern, Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus, Dolce Wildberry Coralbells
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

© North Shore Plant Club 2025. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!