I first fell for the Emerald Green arborvitae, sometimes written the other way around as arborvitae emerald green, while helping a neighbour pick a privacy tree for her narrow side yard, and I quickly learned this cultivar traces back to Denmark, where growers gave it the Danish name Smaragd, meaning emerald.
I like to think of this tree as a low-maintenance worker in the garden, since it holds a columnar shape and a narrow shape without much fuss, and it can reach 20 feet with barely one inch of yearly pruning needed to keep its structure tidy.
One caution from my own experience: this green privacy wall looks harmless, but it is actually toxic to both humans and animals if eaten, so keep pets and kids from chewing on it.
Its uniform growth pattern is part of why people love to grow it as living hedges, and some hobbyists even shape it into playful spiral topiaries for a fun twist.
Emerald Green Arborvitae Appearance
How Tall Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Get
This along with its sister cultivars, keeps a tidy pyramid shape that many gardeners call pyramidal. Once fully grown, it reaches a height of 10–15 feet with a width near 3–4 feet.
How Big Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Get
Young trees add 1–2 feet per year until established, then slow to about 6–9 inches, giving you a fairly predictable emerald green arborvitae growth rate to plan around for a garden or yard.
Its scientific name, Thuja occidentalis, describes a tree with scale-shaped leaves that fan out in tight sprays, forming a dense green, thick foliage that reads as one solid green wall from the street.
I always tell friends with narrower spaces or smaller yards that this tree, also known by its old Smaragd name, fits perfectly into tight corners because of its narrow frame.
Use it for foundation planting or line it up to build a natural privacy screen, and a full row becomes a set of natural privacy screens or one long hedge without extra work.
Arborvitae At a Glance
Unlike deciduous trees that drop their leaves every fall, this evergreen stays green all year-round, holding onto a glossy green color through every one of the four seasons, giving it a lush, healthy look.
That single trait makes it one of the most versatile choices for landscaping, whether you want a lawn accent, a foundation plant, or a full privacy hedge along your property lines or across smaller yards with limited room.
I have grown it in both compact city plots and wide suburban yards, thanks to its narrow shape, and it always looks ideal for tighter spaces where larger trees simply will not fit. For greenery that fills an outdoor space without demanding constant upkeep, this low-maintenance tree checks every box.
Defining Arborvitae
Every arborvitae belongs to the cypress family, and gardeners generally split them into two camps: the eastern arborvitae, known botanically as Thuja occidentalis, and the Western arborvitae, or Thuja plicata.
The eastern type is native to the eastern United States and is the most common choice for hedges, though deer treat it like a snack bar.
The western type, native to the western U.S., grows bigger and shows faster growth, and while it is more deer resistant, it is not as cold-hardy as its eastern cousin, which is worth knowing before you commit to either Thuja variety.
How Fast Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow
As a quick reference, this tree typically adds 1–2 feet per year while young, then eases into a slower pace of 6–9 inches annually once it reaches full size a growth rate that stays remarkably steady across most climates.
How Tall Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow
Left alone with good full sun, a steady watering schedule, and enough spacing, most trees settle into their mature 10–15 feet height within a decade or so, rather than continuing to climb indefinitely.
General Care Checklist
A gardening feature from The Spruce, with photography credited to Evgeniya Vlasova, once showed close leaves closeup shots of glossy leaves, small pine cones, and tree tops set against a clear blue sky, and those images captured exactly why people fall for this plant.
After a storm brings heavy snow, check the branches for damage, since broken limbs may need to be pruned and the young trunk may need to be staked upright until it can recover fully.
Once established, this tree thrives in full sun to partial shade, needs to be watered weekly, and appreciates fertiliser applied in early spring or mid-spring to support steady growth and even faster growth in its early years.
Sun and Shade
This tree needs full sun or partial shade to truly thrive, and it wants at least six hours of sun daily to stay full and healthy. Too much direct sunlight can stress the plant and even burn its foliage, while full shade cuts the density of the branches.
Skip either extreme and you avoid sparse growth, thinning foliage, and the uneven growth that shows up when light levels stay unbalanced.
Soil
These shrubs grow best in moist, well-drained soil, ideally rich loamy soils with pH levels between 6–8, ranging from neutral pH to alkaline pH.
Good drainage matters more than exact soil types, because wet conditions and soggy soil quickly cause root issues for the roots below. Spread a layer of compost or mulch over the root zone, follow a steady watering schedule, and that mulch layer will lock in soil moisture for weeks at a time.
Watering
During the first months after planting, water your tree twice weekly, running a drip hose at the base for a slow drip rather than a quick soak.
Once established, cut back to about one inch, or roughly a half-inch, of water weekly, adjusting for weather and natural rainfall or added irrigation.
Watch the color closely: if leaves turn brown or yellow, the tree may be short on water, but on moisture-retaining soils, overwatering is actually the bigger risk and can lead to root rot. If a branch looks damaged or turns brown, simply prune it away to make room for new growth, since both underwatering and too much water cause real trouble.
Temperature and Humidity
This tree favours cool climates and dry climates over humid conditions, since damp air invites fungal diseases that spread quickly without good air circulation.
Give each tree spacing of 3 to 4 feet to boost airflow, a simple form of disease prevention that costs nothing extra. Being both cold-hardy and drought-resistant, it handles snow and ice without much trouble, and it prefers cooler climates and dryer climates over cold climates paired with windy locations, which can dry out branches fast.
How To Plant Emerald Green Arborvitae
Planting
Plant in fall to dodge heat stress, choosing a sunny area or a partially shaded area and clearing out weeds, turfgrass, and other debris first.
Use a spade to loosen soil, then dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root ball height, since compacted soil and standing water are common reasons a sapling fails to take root. Take off any burlap wrapping, or gently free the tree from its container, and set it so the top sits level with the grade.
Backfill the hole, watering halfway through, then finish and pack down the surface firmly. Spread a 2-3 inch mulch layer or compost for drainage and moisture, but keep it clear of the stem. Water twice a week at first, moving to weekly watering of about half an inch to one inch once the roots settle in.
Spacing
Getting its spacing right matters more than most people expect: a good rule of thumb is to plant trees 3–4 feet apart to avoid gaps while forming a solid privacy screen.
If your width budget is tight, narrower trees planted closer together build a solid wall faster, though they need more patience to fill in.
These tidy groupings also work well as a wind break, and because each tree naturally stays narrow and pyramidal.
When to Plant
Some guides suggest springtime, once the soil temperature reaches at least 40°F, since planting early in the spring season gives the root system enough time to get established before winter stress sets in.
Others prefer fall, arguing it also protects roots from summer heat stress while the tree settles in for wintertime. Either way, the goal is the same: help the tree survive its first year with the least amount of maintenance for the homeowner.
Conclusion
In the end, the Smaragd, or Emerald Green arborvitae call it a green emerald arborvitae if you like earns its place in modern landscapes as a low-maintenance tree that fits small yards and even the tightest tight spaces.
Its narrow, pyramidal shape and dense green foliage create genuinely hassle-free hedges and true natural privacy screens with only minimal pruning required.
Plant it in fall or early spring, anywhere from zone 2 to zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness Zones map, give young trees regular watering and proper spacing, and you end up with a lush green barrier that keeps working season after season.
FAQs
What are the downsides of Emerald Green Arborvitae?
It’s toxic to humans and animals, struggles in humid conditions, and can suffer browning without proper spacing and care.
How big does an Emerald Green Arborvitae get?
A mature tree reaches a height of 10–15 feet with a width of about 3–4 feet.
How long does it take for it to establish?
Most trees become established within the first months of steady watering, though the full root system settles in over about a year.
Does Emerald Green Arborvitae need a lot of sun?
Yes, it thrives best with full sun or partial shade and at least six hours of sun daily.
Can I cut the top off Emerald Green Arborvitae?
It’s best avoided, since cutting into bare wood can ruin its natural pyramidal shape stick to light pruning in early spring instead.