Green Giant vs. Emerald Green arborvitae
Two very different plants with similar names. Here's how mature size, growth rate and spacing compare, and which one fits your yard.
The short answer
Choose Emerald Green when space is tight and you want a neat, narrow screen around 10 to 15 feet tall. Choose Green Giant when you have room for a tree that can pass 40 feet and get 12 to 20 feet wide, and you want height fast.
Side by side
| Emerald Green | Green Giant | |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' | Thuja standishii × plicata 'Green Giant' |
| Typical mature height | 10–15 ft | 40–60 ft |
| Typical mature width | 3–4 ft | 12–20 ft |
| Growth rate | Slow | Fast |
| Screen spacing (on center) | About 3 ft | About 6–8 ft |
| Hardiness zones | 3–7 | 5–7 |
| Deer | Heavily browsed | Browsed less, not deer-proof |
The mistake to avoid
Planting Green Giant at Emerald Green spacing. It looks great for a few years, then the row grows into itself, the inside dies back, and the screen is far wider than the bed. If your strip is under about 8 feet wide, Green Giant is usually the wrong plant.
