Emerald Green Arborvitae - Monrovia
Best evergreen for homeowners seeking low-maintenance privacy screens and windbreaks.
The Emerald Green Arborvitae is a highly popular, narrow, pyramidal evergreen shrub known for its dense foliage that maintains a vibrant emerald green color throughout the winter months. It is an excellent choice for creating tall hedges or privacy screens due to its upright growth habit. This variety thrives well in southern heat and humidity and demonstrates good drought tolerance once fully established. It is also suitable for use as a specimen plant or for topiary work, offering year-round structure and color to the landscape. Proper care involves consistent moisture and well-drained soil for optimal health.
$44.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
785
/ 2609
#785 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+14%
Above average
Mature Height
15
/ feet
Who it's for
- Urban gardeners needing privacy in tight spaces
- Homeowners seeking consistent color throughout the winter
- Cold-climate gardeners living in harsh northern regions
Who should skip it
- Homeowners in regions prone to heavy winter snow
- Residents living in areas with high deer populations
- Gardeners in arid climates without reliable irrigation
Performance breakdown
Privacy Screening
Dense, upright growth creates an effective, natural barrier for residential landscapes.
Climate Adaptability
Robust performance in southern heat and humidity sets this variety apart.
Year-Round Aesthetics
Maintains vibrant emerald color even through the harshest winter months.
Maintenance Ease
Requires consistent moisture and careful pruning to maintain its ideal shape.
Drought Tolerance
Demonstrates reliable resilience only after the root system is fully established.
Versatility
Functions equally well as a formal topiary or a structural hedge.
Key Specs
Mature Height
15 feet
Mature Width
4 feet
Light Needs
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Water Needs
Average to Moist
Prune Time
Only Prune New Growth
Features
- Maintains dense, emerald green foliage color year-round
- Thrives in heat and humidity
- Tolerates dry spells once established
- Ideal for screening or tall hedge applications
- Suitable for topiary shaping
- Effective as a windbreak
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise the Emerald Green Arborvitae for its exceptional quality upon arrival. Reviewers frequently note the plants are healthy, robust, and well packaged, leading to high reliability in successful transplanting. The dense, vibrant green color meets expectations for privacy screening and landscaping projects. While some mention the price point is higher than competitors, the superior health and guaranteed growth success justify the perceived value, making this Monrovia product a trusted choice for long term garden investment.
Know before you buy
For a solid, dense privacy screen, space your plants approximately 3 feet apart. This allows the branches to touch and create a continuous wall while still providing enough airflow for the health of the shrubs.
Emerald Green Arborvitae performs best in full sun, which encourages the densest foliage growth. While it can tolerate partial shade, too little light may cause the shrub to become thin or lose its vibrant green color.
These shrubs are relatively low-maintenance once established. They require consistent watering during their first year, but after that, they are quite drought-tolerant. Pruning should be kept to a minimum and limited only to new growth to maintain their natural shape.
Yes, this specific variety is well-regarded for its ability to thrive in southern heat and humidity. It is a reliable choice for landscapes where other evergreens might struggle with high temperatures.
While they are primarily used as landscape shrubs, they can be grown in large containers for a period. Keep in mind that they will eventually reach 15 feet in height, so they will eventually need to be transplanted into the ground to thrive long-term.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$45