Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' is a real nice tree and similar to the hybrid 'Green Giant' but much hardier. Now I know of people with 'Green Giant's' in zone 5, but I've also seen them croak here which they should not. Your best bet is a small tree (one gallon or thereabouts) and plant it in spring should you choose 'Green Giant'. I just wouldn't personally plant it during fall (in zone 5).

Thuja occ. 'Hetz Wintergreen' I'd plant anytime. Call me finicky, but I still don't quite yet trust those 'Green Giant's'. The Cryptomeria I personally too would forget about all together. That one is definitely a gamble.

Dax

You might also look into these:
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Green Arrow'
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
Larix kaempferi 'Blue Rabbit' (deciduous conifer - loses it's needles in winter) but will grow rapidly to 40 feet tall by 15 feet wide I believe.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Sheridan Spire' (deciduous)
Taxodium distichum 'Cherokee Brave' (Beautiful Deciduous conifer)
Picea engelmannii 'Bush's Lace' / 'Lace' (same plant)

Take care,

Dax

Cryptomeria is on the edge in zone 5, but might be ok in a protected site and in well drained soil.

I'd add some upright junipers to Dax's excellent list, and perhaps hemlocks if you're not in the Woolly Adelgid hot zone.

Note: Deer love Thuja. Don't know if that maters where you are.

Juniperus virginiana 'Elegantissima' is a great tree and exactly the dimensions you're looking for.

Dax

Thanks, there are some nice selections here!

Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' could work, but the info I found says up to 10' wide. In your experience with them, will they obtain a width of at least 10'? That would be about the minimum I would want, although I guess I could do a grouping, spaced 5' apart or so.

Dax's list is very nice. The pictures I could find on his evergreen conifers don't look as dense as I would like them for that particular spot, although it could just be poor pictures that I found. If there are any sites that have good pictures of them I would appreciate a link and I will check them out further. I will consider the deciduous ones for other areas though.

Juniperus virginiana 'Elegantissima' sounds very interesting. It was hard to find a decent picture and info on it though. Is it because this one may not be as common? Also, the site I was able to find with info on it says: Susceptible to Caterpillars and Scales, Branch Blight and Rust. Are these very serious problems with it or just minor?

Thanks for your help!

I knew the 'Hetz Wintergreen' width question would come up but I figure with a growth rate of 3 feet per year at the minimum here in Illinois - you'll have a tree approximately 10 feet wide in 20 years. So kind of a perfect choice really.

Juniperus viginiana 'Elegantissima' I've seen only on video and it's a very nice tree with upswept weeping branches and with a fast growth rate. It's also dense.

Then sure, I thought with the deciduous suggestions, they wouldn't make your list, but I offered them up anyway on simple fact that they'd make for a nice specimen.

If you like the Green Giant - go for it. It's very dark green and really a super conifer in my opinion. Everyone likes them.

As to Blights, caterpillars, and whatever else your list of pests is, I don't have an answer for you. Maybe alone because I don't know where you live, but Juniperus viginiana in general can be planted I believe just about anywhere in the US that's zone 9 and below. So it should do well just about anywhere. Best I can say.

Maybe a Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula' will fit your needs, but unfortunately it does grow slower than most.

Good luck & take care!

Dax

I guess I can post some photos to help:

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula' (Hidden Lake Gardens)

Pinus strobus 'Golden Candles' (Hidden Lake Gardens)
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Pinus koraiensis 'Silveray' (Hidden Lake Gardens)

Picea pungens 'Thompson'

Picea omorika 'Pendula' (forms vary - Hidden Lake Gardens)

Picea pungens 'Iseli Foxtail' (Bickelhaupt Arboretum)

Pinus koraiensis 'Silveray' (Bickelhaupt Arboretum)

Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' (Bickelhaupt Arb.)
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Foliage 'Hetz Wintergreen' (Fall 2003 - Bickelhaupt)
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Yah - I'd probably skip 'Hetz Wintergreen' - It's too skinny.

Larix kaempferi 'Diana' - This is a good one! Deciduous as you see:
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I don't know - there'a a few for you to look at.

Also you can check out my photo albums here:
Photo's Webpage

Dax

Those are some nice pictures Dax, thanks. After reviewing them, and my choices available, I went back out and measured the spot in my yard again where I am looking to plant the conifer and I think I could fit a conifer that got up to 20' wide. My river birch is 28' off my property line in the back of my yard and the conifer will go in between in the corner. The conifer would have to be conical though (not like an Austrian Pine that gets full) so as the river birch got taller and fuller at the top it will still have room. My first choice then would be an Abies Concolor fir, but the information I find on it says it is slow growing, so I will have to think about that one. Can you offer any suggestions for a 20' wide conifer? I am looking for something disease resistant, hardy and medium to fast growing.