Emerald Green Arborvitae Tree

Emerald Green is the familiar name for the narrow, compact Thuja occidentalis cultivar treated as ‘Emerald’ or ‘Smaragd’ in horticultural references. Cornell's Woody Plants Database explicitly lists ‘Emerald,’ ‘Smaragd,’ and ‘Emerald Green’ as names for the same compact form and describes bright green foliage that holds its color through winter. The RHS profile calls it a slow-growing evergreen conifer with a conical habit, lists chalk, clay, loam, and sand, and recommends full sun and moist but well-drained soil. NC State Extension notes that Thuja occidentalis grows in full sun or partial shade and performs best in moist, well-drained loam; dry, exposed sites can cause winter foliage damage. Sources: [Cornell Woody Plants Database](https://woodyplants.cals.cornell.edu/cultivar/12095), [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/53371/thuja-occidentalis-emerald/details), [American Conifer Society](https://conifersociety.org/conifers/thuja-occidentalis-smaragd/), and [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thuja-occidentalis/). ## Maintenance Plant in moist, well-drained soil and water during dry periods, especially while establishing. Full sun supports dense growth; partial shade is also suitable, while deep shade can thin the foliage.