Emerald Cedar/Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)

Emerald Cedar/Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is a classic hardy evergreen prized for its dense emerald-green foliage, narrow upright growth habit, and exceptional year-round colour retention. This elegant arborvitae is one of the most popular evergreen choices for privacy screens, hedges, foundation plantings, and formal landscape designs throughout Canadian gardens.

Its soft scale-like foliage maintains rich emerald-green colour through all seasons, including winter, unlike many older arborvitae varieties that bronze heavily in cold weather. The naturally narrow pyramidal growth habit requires very little pruning, making it ideal for clean formal hedges, vertical accents, and space-saving privacy plantings.

Emerald Arborvitae grows with a dense uniform structure that provides excellent screening from wind and neighbouring properties while adding strong architectural form to the landscape. It pairs beautifully with flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses, and mixed evergreen plantings in both traditional and modern garden designs.

In Alberta, Emerald Cedar performs best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and moderate watering during establishment. Protection from harsh winter winds and adequate moisture in fall can help maintain healthy foliage colour through Prairie winters.