Thuja O. ‘Emerald Green’ 6-7‘

Latin Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’

Common Name: Emerald Green Arborvitae

Zones: 3-8

Height & Spread: 10-15 feet tall (occasionally to 20 feet), spreading 3-5 feet wide

Descriptive Features: A popular, narrowly pyramidal to columnar evergreen, a Danish selection from the native eastern white cedar. Dense, flat, fan-like sprays of glossy, aromatic, scale-like foliage stay a bright emerald green all year, with little of the winter bronzing seen in other arborvitaes. Grows at a moderate pace, adding about 6-9 inches of height per year once established, and holds its tidy shape with little or no pruning. Its narrow footprint makes it a top choice for privacy screens, formal hedges, and windbreaks, as well as for a tall accent or container specimen. Songbirds shelter in its dense branches. Thrives in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil, and it needs regular watering, especially while young. Avoid topping or cutting into bare older wood, which will not regrow. Winter burn, spider mites, and heavy browsing by deer are the main concerns, and heavy snow can bend or split the branches, so tying them in can help. An excellent choice for hedges, privacy screens, narrow spaces, foundation plantings, and entryway accents in full sun to part shade.