Thuja occ. ‘Smaragd’

Description

Common Name: Emerald Green Arborvitae, Smaragd Hedge
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’
Plant Type: Evergreen conifer hedge
Mature Height: 2-4m (as hedge)
Mature Spread: 60-80cm (hedge width)
Flowering Period: April-May (inconspicuous)
Flower Colour: Yellowish-brown (small cones)
Foliage: Bright emerald green scale-like leaves, evergreen
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy throughout UK and Ireland)
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
Aspect: Full sun to partial shade
Maintenance: Low (1-2 trims per year)

Description

Like living walls of brilliant emerald crystal, Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ hedging brings exceptional year-round colour and architectural precision to gardens with its spectacular bright green foliage that maintains perfect intensity throughout every season, creating one of the most striking and reliable evergreen hedges for Irish landscapes. This magnificent conifer hedge embodies contemporary garden elegance with its naturally columnar habit that forms dense, formal barriers whilst offering the extraordinary characteristic of retaining its vibrant emerald colour even through the harshest winters when other conifers fade to bronze.

Each perfectly formed hedge displays the most exquisite scale-like foliage in brilliant emerald green that creates beautiful textural interest with its soft, feathery appearance and naturally dense branching pattern. The remarkable colour consistency ensures year-round visual impact that never disappoints, whilst the slow, steady growth rate means this living architecture maintains its elegant proportions and crisp lines with minimal intervention, creating hedges of enduring beauty and perfect form.

The exceptional hardiness and tolerance make Smaragd hedging equally valuable in formal contemporary gardens and traditional landscapes, thriving in Irish conditions whilst maintaining perfect density and colour saturation. This supremely reliable variety withstands cold winds, urban pollution, and challenging weather whilst never losing its spectacular emerald brilliance, making it one of the most dependable and visually impressive evergreen hedging plants for Irish gardens seeking year-round impact.

Beloved by discerning gardeners for its consistent performance and stunning appearance, ‘Smaragd’ combines outstanding ornamental beauty with exceptional practical benefits and remarkable longevity. Plant to create formal garden boundaries that provide year-round structure, use as backdrop hedging to highlight seasonal plantings, or establish as screening that will provide privacy, windbreak protection, and emerald beauty for decades to come with minimal maintenance requirements.

Caragh’s Garden Notebook

Plant in autumn or early spring in well-prepared, fertile soil with good drainage and moisture retention, as Thuja benefits from consistent soil moisture without waterlogging. Choose a position with morning sun and some afternoon shade, with protection from harsh winter winds in exposed locations. Space plants 60-80cm apart in a single row for dense coverage and optimal colour display.

Maintain soil fertility with annual mulching using organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure applied in spring around the hedge base. Water regularly during the first two growing seasons and during dry spells to establish strong root systems, as consistent moisture promotes healthy growth and maintains the spectacular emerald colouring.

Trim 1-2 times per year (late spring and again in late summer if needed) to maintain shape and encourage dense growth, using sharp hedge trimmers to preserve the soft foliage texture. The slow growth rate means less frequent trimming than faster-growing hedges, whilst the naturally dense habit makes shaping straightforward.

Feed established hedges with evergreen fertiliser in early spring to promote vigorous growth and maintain the intense emerald colouring that makes this variety so distinctive. Avoid hard pruning into old wood, as Thuja does not regenerate well from bare stems, making regular light trimming essential for long-term hedge health.

Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first few years after planting, as consistent moisture is essential for maintaining the spectacular colour and preventing browning. The fibrous root system benefits from permanent mulching to retain moisture and protect from temperature extremes, extending the mulch 60cm either side of the hedge base.