Portuguese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica
Height20 to 30 ftSpread15 to 20 ftGrowth1 to 2 ft / yrZones7 to 9
Moderate maintenance1 / 5
Emerald Green arborvitae in a garden bed · Photo: Daderot, CC0
Photo credits
- Emerald Green arborvitae in a garden bed. Photo by Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- A row of Emerald Green arborvitae on a lawn. Photo by Athantor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Emerald Green arborvitae in a park. Photo by Harvey Stillnot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Close-up of Emerald Green arborvitae foliage. Photo by Athantor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Evergreen conifer
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'
The classic narrow hedge tree. Dense, deep green all year and slim enough for tight side yards.
- Max height
- 15 ft
- Typical height
- 12 to 15 ft
- Spread
- 3 to 4 ft
- Growth per year
- 6 to 12 in
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Light
- Sun to part shade
- Hardiness zones
- 3 to 8
- Native to
- Garden form of eastern arborvitae, from eastern North America
MaintenanceLow
No pruning needed. Shear lightly once a year only if you want a formal hedge. Water well through the first two summers.
See it at scale
Emerald Green Arborvitae, up to 15 ft tall and 4 ft wide
Compare with
Similar trees
Same use, closest in size
Excelsa Cedar
Thuja plicata 'Excelsa'
Height30 to 40 ftSpread12 to 20 ftGrowth1 to 2 ft / yrZones5 to 8
Low maintenance
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja standishii x plicata
Height40 to 60 ftSpread12 to 18 ftGrowth2 to 3 ft / yrZones5 to 9
Low maintenance