Conifers
Emerald Green arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'
Emerald Green arborvitae creates a narrow evergreen column for screening or a repeated vertical accent. Dense, bright green foliage typically develops to 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, making its scale more manageable than larger screening conifers. Still leave room for roots, expanding foliage, and maintenance access. Sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil help maintain a full screen. In Southwest Washington, water deeply through establishment and summer dry spells. Trim only lightly within green growth, since bare old wood may not recover. Plan protection where deer browse young hedges.
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'Emerald Green': Young plant (April). Can be seen at the Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden, Concord, NC
CC BY 4.0 · Web-optimized
At a glance
- Mature height
- 10–15 ft
- Mature spread
- 3–4 ft
- Light
- Sun to partial shade
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 2–7
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Use Emerald Green for a narrow hedge, screen, or vertical accent near a foundation corner. Its dense evergreen foliage provides cover without the broad crown of a larger conifer.
Where to plant
Allow for a 10–15-foot height and 3–4-foot width, with access for hedge maintenance. Choose sun or partial shade and avoid tight, dry planting strips between paved surfaces.
Through the seasons
Bright green foliage remains through the year. Small cones may appear, but the dense evergreen growth is the main feature.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Dry summers and exposed winter conditions can brown arborvitae foliage in Northwest gardens. Maintain root moisture and avoid drying wind, especially while a young screen is becoming established.
Soil, drainage & water
Provide moist, well-drained soil and water deeply through establishment and dry spells. Mulch the root area, checking that moisture reaches the roots without leaving them waterlogged.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Trim lightly while growth is green, keeping the hedge within its available space. Avoid deep cuts into bare interior wood, which may not produce enough new growth to fill gaps.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Stress and black flagging
Foliage may brown or develop dark tips after drought, heat, drying wind, or root damage.
Help your plant thrive
Check root moisture, exposure, and possible injury before treating. Reduce avoidable stress and protect the lower stem from mechanical damage.
Blighted or mined tips
Individual shoots may brown or die back from foliage disease or insects.
Help your plant thrive
Inspect affected tips closely and maintain airflow around the hedge. Identify the cause before pruning extensively or applying a treatment.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
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2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
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