Description
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS ‘EMERALD GREEN’
If you’ve been searching for the perfect living privacy screen—something narrow enough to tuck between properties, tough enough to handle Connecticut’s unpredictable winters, and green enough to actually stay green all year—Emerald Green Arborvitae is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. This isn’t just another evergreen; it’s the backbone of countless New England gardens, and once you plant one, you’ll understand why.
What it looks like
Emerald Green is the kind of arborvitae that makes you do a double-take. The foliage is genuinely emerald—not that dull olive-green you see on so many conifers. It’s a brilliant, rich green that practically glows in winter when everything else has faded to gray. The form is columnar, almost pencil-thin, with a natural pyramidal shape that needs virtually no pruning to look polished. The soft, feathery foliage has a pleasant texture that invites you to run your hand across it, and it releases the most wonderful aromatic oils when brushed or crushed.
Growing it in your garden
This is where Emerald Green truly shines for Connecticut gardeners. Unlike some finicky evergreens, this cultivar is genuinely unfussy about soil conditions. It prefers moisture-retentive soil but adapts well to the clay and rocky soils common throughout New England. It’s happiest in full sun to part shade, and while it’ll tolerate afternoon shade, you’ll get the most vibrant color in at least six hours of direct sun. Space these about three to four feet apart if you’re creating a hedge or screen—they’ll fill in nicely without crowding each other, which is important for air circulation and overall health.
Through the seasons
Spring brings fresh, bright new growth that adds even more dimension to the existing foliage. Summer is when Emerald Green works hardest as a privacy screen, its dense branching creating an impenetrable wall of greenery. Fall is when many evergreens fade, but not this one—it holds that luminous emerald color right through November. Winter is perhaps its finest hour. While deciduous plants around it turn skeletal, Emerald Green stands at full attention, its color deepening slightly and providing structure and interest to the dormant landscape. It handles Connecticut’s snow and ice beautifully; the columnar form sheds snow naturally without breaking under the weight.
Where it shines
Plant Emerald Green where you need a vertical accent or a living fence. It’s ideal for creating property line screens, blocking an unsightly view, or framing an entrance. Because of its narrow profile, it works in tight spaces where broader evergreens would overwhelm. It’s stunning along driveways, in foundation plantings, or as a specimen tree where its elegant form can be appreciated. Many gardeners use it to create a living windbreak—a series of Emerald Greens can significantly reduce wind damage and create a sheltered microclimate for more tender plants.
Perfect companions
Emerald Green plays beautifully with broadleaf evergreens like boxwoods and hollies, creating contrast in texture. Pair it with flowering shrubs like serviceberry or native viburnums to soften the formality. In a hedge setting, alternate it with other columnar evergreens like Sky Pencil Holly for added visual interest. Low-growing perennials like creeping juniper or catmint at the base soften the transition to the garden floor and reduce lawn maintenance along the planting.
Care tips
Plant in spring or early fall to give roots time to establish before summer heat or winter cold arrives. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season—consistent moisture is especially important for young plants. A two- to three-inch layer of mulch keeps roots cool and reduces watering needs, but keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk. Once established, Emerald Green is remarkably drought-tolerant, though it performs best with occasional deep watering during dry spells. Prune only in late winter or early spring if needed; this plant naturally wants to be narrow and upright, so pruning is usually unnecessary. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry summers (they prefer stressed plants), and ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues in humid Connecticut summers.
Quick facts
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8 (perfect for Connecticut)
- Mature Height & Spread: 40-60 feet tall, 3-5 feet wide
- Bloom Season: Non-flowering; evergreen foliage
- Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture but tolerates drought once established
- Available at: Both our retail and wholesale locations.
