Do you have any idea where we can buy Swamp (White) Cedars in Toronto? Having trouble finding them. We have a hedge but need to fill in a bit.
Thank-you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners with your question.
Swamp cedar, Thuja occidentalis, is a native plant to southern Ontario (and much of eastern North America). It is a good hedge plant and is readily available for purchase. Unfortunately we do not recommend specific vendors or garden centres. Your best bet to find sources is Landscape Ontario’s website where they list various businesses. Check out https://landscapeontario.com/ and search for “Retail Garden Centres” in your area. When checking for availability with the garden centres, make sure to check under the botanical name as well as the following common names: Arborvitae, Eastern Arborvitae, Eastern White Cedar, Northern White Cedar, Swamp Cedar, or White Cedar. Some of the popular varieties for purchase, such as ‘Emerald Cedar’ are related to Thuja occidentalis, but look quite different to the species so they might look out of place in your hedge.
A more general Google search under “Eastern White Cedar Ontario” yields some more specialized vendors selling cedars specifically. There are also some listings for sellers of native plants that could be useful.
Good luck in your hunt!
19/05/22