Thuja occidentalis 'Bright Smaragd'

Provides excellent shelter and nesting sites for small birds.

Foliage may offer limited winter protection for pollinators and beneficial insects.

Generally deer resistant, but young foliage may occasionally be nibbled in early spring or harsh winters.

Spring: Fresh green growth flush.

Summer: Vibrant golden-green foliage remains bright and dense.

Fall: Retains color without bronzing, unlike many other arborvitae.

Winter: Maintains form and rich color, offering reliable evergreen presence year-round.

– Excellent for hedges, privacy screens, foundation plantings, narrow borders, and container gardens

Dense, scale-like foliage in flattened sprays, bright emerald-green with golden undertones.

Maintains color exceptionally well through all seasons, even in winter.

Aromatic when crushed, releasing a pleasant resinous scent.

Inconspicuous; produces small, yellowish male pollen cones and greenish female cones in spring.

Not ornamental—foliage and form are the primary aesthetic features.

Choose a location with full sun to light partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root collar.

Loosen surrounding soil and mix in compost or aged organic matter to improve structure and drainage.

Position the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.

Backfill with soil, gently firm it down, and water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets.

Apply a 2–3 inch mulch layer around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

For hedging, space plants 2–3 feet apart for a dense, uniform screen

Minimal pruning required; maintains a naturally narrow, pyramidal shape.

Lightly trim in early spring or late summer to shape or control height.

Avoid cutting into old wood, as Thuja does not regenerate from brown, woody sections.

Remove any damaged or diseased branches promptly to maintain air circulation and health.

Keep soil consistently moist, especially during the first two growing seasons.

Once established, moderately drought tolerant, but best performance occurs with regular deep watering.

Avoid overly wet or compacted soil; Thuja prefers evenly moist but well-drained conditions.

Prefers full sun (6+ hours daily) for brightest golden-green foliage color.

Tolerates light partial shade but may lose vibrancy in deep shade.

Produces tiny, oval cones (about ½ inch long) that turn brown as they mature.

Cones may persist through winter but are not ornamental or edible.

No harvesting required—primarily valued for evergreen foliage and structure.

Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release evergreen or conifer fertilizer (e.g., 18-6-12).

Avoid over-fertilization; excessive nitrogen can cause soft, weak growth.

Compost or organic mulch applied annually maintains soil fertility and moisture.

Monoecious species—produces both male and female cones on the same plant.

Wind-pollinated, not dependent on insects.

Cones form after pollination in spring and mature by fall.

Shrubs: Hydrangea, Spiraea, and Physocarpus create color contrast and layered texture.

Perennials: Salvia, Rudbeckia, and Echinacea provide summer color at the base.

Evergreens: Juniper or Picea offer textural contrast in mixed evergreen borders.

Ideal for formal hedges, property borders, foundation plantings, or container gardens.