Description
Emerald Green Arborvitae are a cultivar of our native American arborvitae. With a tall slender shape and stiff, thick branches, it makes an excellent privacy screen. The needles on this tree are soft, flat, fan like and they seamlessly extent to the woody stems of the tree. They are very versatile and can be grown pretty much any soil. They are also tolerant of a wide range of ph. As a member of the cypress family, they do really thrive in moist soils.
The American arb is very common in the northeastern parts of the United States. There are some groves of these trees as far south as Tennessee and North Carolina. Arborvitae means ‘tree of life’. It was given this name when the French explorer Cartier learned from Native Americans that it can be used to treat scurvy.
The largest know white cedar tree is located in Leelanau County, just a short drive from our farm. The oldest dead white cedar was estimated to have an age of 1,890 years., they grow naturally in our swamps and on hill sides. Unfortunately, they are very susceptible to deer browse. They can be protected as seedlings with a wire cage and as they grow, they can be wrapped in burlap to protect them through the winter when they are most vulnerable.
The Emerald Green cultivar has bright emerald, green color that stays vibrant even in the winter. It is a compact pyramidal shape. Emerald Green Arborvitaes also have great heat and cold tolerance.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Scientific Name: Thuja occidentalis var. ‘Emerald Green’
Zone: 5-7 Find your Growing Zone
Mature Height: 10-14 ft
Mature Width: 3-4 ft
Growth Rate: Slow
Soil: Moist, well-drained.
Sun Requirements: Sun or part-shade
Fall Color: None
Wildlife Value: Wonderful cover for birds and mammals.
