The Eastern arborvitae cultivar Smaragdis more often sold under the names Emerald or Emerald Green . Its flattened spray of scaly , evergreen needle densely pass over the upright , columnar silhouette , making it an olympian shrub for creating garden hedge or screens . It also make an attractive vertical accent in a mixed border . Best grown in full to partial Sunday , it come through a mix of sun and spook across the day . The more sunlight the well for it . Emerald arborvitae matures 12 to 15 groundwork tall and 3 to 5 feet wide . Grow it in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 2b through 7 .
Light Requirements
For the densest and fullest growth of branches and needle , plant it in full to partial sun where it take in at least six hours verbatim sun day by day . Arborvitae grows in partial shade , but the habit becomes much lax and receptive . Siting it where a shifting mix of sun and shade pass across the day keep the Emerald arborvitae alive , but do n’t expect as tight or as full a shrub compared to one planted in more sunshine .
Regional Considerations
The quality and intensity of sunlight in the Southern United States , as well as the hot summer , allow for the Emerald arborvitae to produce and see healthy in a mix of Sunday and spectre . In USDA zones 6 and 7 or at higher elevations , unassailable sunlight rays in summer furnish more light energy to the leafage even in mottled shade . Farther north , the sun ’s angle is lower , less intense , so dappled subtlety does not provide as much sparkle for photosynthesis , and the shrub may look a fleck thin and loose . It live summer neighborhood , shade in the hottest part of the good afternoon may be a benefit to decrease accent from dry grime .
Shade Tree Types
If deciduous tree cast shade onto the Emerald arborvitae from spring to fall , the bush rise and look well , since more sunshine achieve the arborvitae when the tree are barren from decline to spring . If the arborvitae is planted under evergreen trees , such as pines , tad occurs year - round . look the arborvitae to count skinny if institute under evergreen plant trees .
Growing Tips
If constitute in a commixture of sun and shade , it ’s vital that the ground is fertile , dampish but well - draining . A wet soil coupled with lower light hastens development of radical putrefaction and other fungous disease . Good melodic phrase circulation around Emerald arborvitae in shadier conditions also diminishes sloshed soil or foliage way out . If dirt are moist to dry and irrigation is not readily useable , the arborvitae may grow full of health once its base are establish . Keep the root orb evenly moist for the first six to 12 months after imbed before allow only rain sustain the plant in the mottled wraith location .
