Plant Library

Other Names:  Eastern White Cedar

Description:

A stately pyramidal evergreen for home landscape use, dense foliage emerges yellow and matures to gold over green; makes an impressive accent, hardy and adaptable, takes pruning well; best with some sun

Ornamental Features

Smaragd Yellow #2 Arborvitae is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has grayish green-variegated gold foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage remain gold throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Smaragd Yellow #2 Arborvitae is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Smaragd Yellow #2 Arborvitae is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Smaragd Yellow #2 Arborvitae will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.