Mature size & growth rate

How big does Russian Arborvitae (Microbiota decussata) get?

Also called Russian Arborvitae, Siberian Carpet Cypress, Russian Cypress.

More about russian arborvitae

About Russian Arborvitae

Microbiota decussata · also called Russian Arborvitae, Siberian Carpet Cypress · flowering

Microbiota decussata is a low-growing, spreading conifer native to the Zhitkov Mountains of Siberia, making it one of the hardiest conifers in cultivation. It forms a graceful, prostrate mound of feathery, scale-like foliage that turns purplish-bronze in winter. Outstanding as a ground cover in cold-climate gardens, it thrives in part shade and is undemanding once established.

Mature size: 30–50 cm tall, spreading 1.5–3 m wide over many years

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Russian Arborvitae grows on a tree's timeline and scale — indoors it becomes a tall, trunked statement plant rather than a tabletop one. Indoors and in a pot, expect 30–50 cm tall, spreading 1.5–3 m wide over many years. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It gains real height on a trunk or main stem, adding a tier of leaves a year and eventually reaching for the ceiling — this is a plant you grow up, not out.

Growth rate and years to mature

Russian Arborvitae is a slow grower. Realistically, expect a decade or more — slow growers like this add only a few centimetres a year, so expect 8-15+ years to reach their indoor ceiling. Its feeding profile backs this up: apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser lightly in spring. russian arborvitae is naturally adapted to low-fertility substrates and generally does not need heavy feeding. over-fertilising produces lush, soft growth less resistant to cold.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the russian arborvitae repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast russian arborvitae grows.

How to keep russian arborvitae smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For russian arborvitae specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

The decisive tool is the secateurs: russian arborvitae can be topped (cut the main growing tip) to cap its height and force a bushier, shorter shape.
Keeping it deliberately pot-bound in a snug container slows the whole plant and limits ultimate size.
Prune in spring so it heals fast; remove the tallest leader back to a node to reset the height.
Good news: slow growth means topping it once buys you years before it needs doing again.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Pick the new height. Decide how tall you want russian arborvitae and find a leaf node or branch point just below that.
Top the main stem. Cut the main growing tip cleanly just above that node in spring; this permanently caps the height and forces side branches.
Keep the pot snug. Avoid jumping to a much bigger pot — a slightly restricted rootball keeps the whole plant smaller.
Maintain the shape. Prune back the tallest new leaders each spring to hold it at the height you chose.

How to grow russian arborvitae bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for russian arborvitae the accelerators are:

It already wants the bright light it needs; warmth, a yearly pot-up and spring-summer feed are the accelerators.
Pot up a size every year or two while young; restricted roots are the main thing holding height back.
Feed regularly through the growing season and keep it warm — height comes from sustained good conditions.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The russian arborvitae light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When russian arborvitae outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for russian arborvitae:

The top leaves pressing against or bent by the ceiling — the classic "this is now too tall indoors" sign.
It has to be moved away from a light source it has literally outgrown.
Roots filling the largest pot you can reasonably keep indoors — at that point it is top-or-prune or move it outside (if hardy).

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the russian arborvitae repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the russian arborvitae propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Russian Arborvitae size — frequently asked questions

How big does russian arborvitae get?

Russian Arborvitae reaches 30–50 cm tall, spreading 1.5–3 m wide over many years when grown indoors. It gains real height on a trunk or main stem, adding a tier of leaves a year and eventually reaching for the ceiling — this is a plant you grow up, not out.

Is russian arborvitae slow or fast growing?

Russian Arborvitae is a slow grower. Expect a decade or more — slow growers like this add only a few centimetres a year, so expect 8-15+ years to reach their indoor ceiling. Russian Arborvitae grows on a tree's timeline and scale — indoors it becomes a tall, trunked statement plant rather than a tabletop one.

How long does russian arborvitae take to reach full size?

Roughly a decade or more — slow growers like this add only a few centimetres a year, so expect 8-15+ years to reach their indoor ceiling. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep russian arborvitae smaller?

The decisive tool is the secateurs: russian arborvitae can be topped (cut the main growing tip) to cap its height and force a bushier, shorter shape. Keeping it deliberately pot-bound in a snug container slows the whole plant and limits ultimate size. Prune in spring so it heals fast; remove the tallest leader back to a node to reset the height. Good news: slow growth means topping it once buys you years before it needs doing again.

How can I make russian arborvitae grow bigger or faster?

It already wants the bright light it needs; warmth, a yearly pot-up and spring-summer feed are the accelerators. Pot up a size every year or two while young; restricted roots are the main thing holding height back. Feed regularly through the growing season and keep it warm — height comes from sustained good conditions.