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thuja smaragd spacing

Thuja 'Smaragd', also known as Green Cedar or Green Arborvitae, is prized throughout New Zealand for its vibrant, narrow foliage and elegant upright growth. Whether you're planning a formal hedge, a living privacy screen, or a stunning feature in your landscape, understanding the optimal thuja smaragd spacing is crucial. Proper spacing ensures healthy, lush growth and prevents overcrowding, giving your garden or property the beautiful, structured look you're after.

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (Green Cedar)

5 from 2 customers

Green Cedar, Emerald Cedar, Green Arborvitae

Thuja 'Smaragd', commonly known as the Green or Emerald Cedar, grows with a narrow, dense, and columnar habit. The foliage is rich green, sometimes tinged bronze in winter, and produced with a somewhat layered effect to give the plant an interesting texture. It typically grows to 7 m in height and 2.5 m in width in full sun. Thuja 'Smaragd' is commonly included in a mixed planting, used as a backdrop for smaller plants, grown for shelter or screening, used for hedging, or planted to line an entranceway or avenue. It is excellent for providing an architectural element and suits being planted against a large, bland wall.

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' hedge with bright green foliage.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Conifers
  • Height:
    7.00 m
  • Spread:
    2.50 m
  • Tolerances:
    Extended dry periods, Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Containers, Hedging, Screening
  • Garden styles:
    Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Modern
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Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (Green Cedar)

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Ideal Spacing for Thuja 'Smaragd'

The most important factor in thuja smaragd spacing is the purpose of your planting. For manicured hedges and privacy screens, we recommend spacing each plant between 60cm and 1 metre apart. Closer spacing (around 60cm) will create a dense, fast-forming hedge, while spacing up to 1 metre apart still produces a solid screen but allows each Thuja to display its graceful form and encourages better air circulation.

If you're creating a standalone specimen planting, thuja smaragd spacing should be wider—between 1.2 to 1.5 metres apart—so each plant can fully develop its naturally slender pyramid shape without competing roots and foliage. Good spacing also reduces the risk of disease and ensures easier access for pruning or maintenance.

Why Does Proper Spacing Matter?

Selecting the right thuja smaragd spacing means your plants have room to thrive. With too-tight planting, Green Cedars can become stunted, suffer from poor airflow, and be prone to fungal issues. Well-spaced Thuja 'Smaragd' hedges grow robustly, with those signature emerald leaves and a consistent shape.

If you're curious about how Thuja 'Smaragd' compares to other conifers for hedging or screening, take a look at Thuja occidentalis 'Pyramidalis', which offers a similar upright habit but slightly different foliage. For those wanting faster growth, Thuja 'Green Giant' is a popular choice, while Thuja plicata and Thuja plicata Old Gold (Thuja Old Gold) introduce rich gold and green tones to your landscape.

Practical Planting Tips

When planting Thuja 'Smaragd', prepare your site by loosening the soil thoroughly and incorporate organic matter for improved drainage. With the right thuja smaragd spacing, your hedge or screen will fill out beautifully within 3–5 years, requiring only occasional trimming to maintain its height and shape. Mulching around each plant retains moisture and suppresses weeds, making maintenance a breeze.

If you enjoy pairing conifers in your garden, consider featuring Thuja 'Smaragd' alongside unique specimens such as Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold', Abies concolor Piggelmee, or even dwarf options like Cryptomeria Globosa Nana. For golden highlights, Cryptomeria japonica Elegans Aurea and Taxus baccata Dovastonii Aurea make excellent companions.

Conclusion

Getting thuja smaragd spacing right is the foundation for a healthy, vibrant hedge or standout specimen. Your Green Cedars will reward you with dense emerald foliage, strong growth, and enduring beauty in any New Zealand garden. Explore our range of conifers to find the perfect match for your outdoor space, including the elegant Abies forrestii (Silver Fir). Happy planting!


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–The Plant Company

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