Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) is one of the most versatile and popular evergreens for the home landscape. They are used as formal or natural hedges, privacy screens, foundation plantings, and specimen plants, and they can also be shaped into unique shapes. Arborvitae look good in almost all garden styles, whether it's a cottage garden, a Chinese/Zen garden, or a formal English garden.
The key to using arborvitae successfully in landscaping is choosing the right cultivar. This article discusses a variety of shrubs known as 'Emerald Green' or 'Smaragd' (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'). Continue reading for emerald green arborvitae information.
About Emerald Green Arborvitae Varieties
Emerald Green arborvitae, also known as Smaragd arborvitae or Emerald arborvitae, is one of the most popular types of arborvitae for landscaping. It is often chosen for its narrow, pyramidal shape and deep green colour.
When sprays of flat, scale-like foliage mature on a nursery, they turn a deep shade of green. The emerald green eventually grows to 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m) tall and 3 to 4 feet (1 m) wide, reaching its mature height in 10 to 15 years.
As a variety of Thuja occidentalis, the emerald green arborvitae are members of the eastern white cedar family. They are native to North America and range naturally from Canada to the Appalachian Mountains. When French settlers came to North America, they called them Arborvitae, which means "tree of life."
Although emerald green plants may be called Smaragd or Emerald arborvitae in different regions, all three names refer to the same species.
How to Grow Emerald Green Arborvitae
When grown, emerald green arborvitae grow best in full sun but tolerate partial shade and prefer partial shade from the afternoon sun, especially in the warmer parts of hardiness range 3 to 8. Emerald green arborvitae are tolerant of clay, chalk, or sandy soils. , but prefers rich loams in the neutral pH range. It also tolerates air pollution and black walnut toxin in the soil.
Often used as privacy hedges or to add height around corners in foundation plantings, emerald green arborvitae can be trimmed into spirals or other topiary shapes for unique specimen plants. In the landscape, they can be susceptible to pests, cankers, or scale. They can be susceptible to winter burns as well as damage from heavy snow or ice in windy areas. Unfortunately, deer also find it particularly attractive in the winter when other plants are scarce.
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