Comparing Green Giant vs. Emerald Green Arborvitae
The Key Differences Between Emerald Green Arborvitae and Green Giant
The main difference between emerald green arborvitae and green giants is their size. Green giants are much taller and wider than emerald green arborvitae and are also a much darker green color. Other differences between them include their cold tolerance, soil preferences, and their growth rate.
Emerald Green Arborvitae vs. Green Giant: Species
Although the green giant and the emerald green arborvitae look alike and are both “arborvitaes,” they are not actually the same tree. The emerald green arborvitae is a type of eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). The eastern white cedar is native to North America and is one of the most popular arborvitaes to be kept as an ornamental plant. The green giant is actually a hybrid of two arborvitae trees – the Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii) and the western red cedar (Thuja plicata). The Japanese thuja is native to Japan, while the western red cedar is native to the western region of North America. Incredibly, the green giant was actually first developed in Denmark in the 1930s before it was introduced to North America in 1967.
Emerald Green Arborvitae vs. Green Giant: Size and Shape
One of the biggest differences between emerald green arborvitaes and green giants is their size. As their name suggests, green giants are just that – giants. They reach an impressive 20 to 40 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide. They grow in a pyramidal shape which gives them a distinctive appearance. Green giants are best suited to large hedges or areas requiring a large “wall” of trees. Although still not exactly small, emerald green arborvitaes only reach 8 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. They grow in a more columnar shape than green giants, and as they have a much smaller spread, they are able to fit into much smaller spaces. Emerald green arborvitaes are better suited to smaller hedges or privacy screens. Due to their smaller size, they also do well in plant pots.
Emerald Green Arborvitae vs. Green Giant: Color
Although both trees are evergreen, they actually have distinctly different colors. Green giants are a rich, dark green that provides a perfect backdrop all year round. However, emerald green arborvitaes are a much lighter green which is a noticeably brighter color than the green giant. With their size and bright color, they are the perfect ornamental tree to brighten any garden all year round.
Emerald Green Arborvitae vs. Green Giant: Cold Tolerance
One of the most important differences between these two trees – especially if you’re choosing one for your yard or garden – is how well they tolerate the cold. Although both trees are hardy, emerald green arborvitaes can tolerate the cold much better than green giants. Emerald greens can survive in temperatures up to -40°F and are suited to living in zones 2 to 8. Although green giants are also capable of surviving in snow and frost, they can only cope with temperatures up to -20°F and do best in zones 5 to 9. However, on the other hand, green giants can actually handle high temperatures better than emerald green arborvitaes can. Green giants can survive in the warmer southern regions of the United States, where emerald greens can’t.
Emerald Green Arborvitae vs. Green Giant: Growth Rate
The final difference between emerald green arborvitaes and green giants is how fast they grow. Emerald green arborvitae is a slow-growing tree that only achieves a maximum growth of 12 inches per year. However, the green giant is a much faster-growing tree and can achieve a growth rate of 3 feet per year until it reaches maturity.
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Given their large size green giants are not suited as shrubs and in this case emerald green arborvitae would be a better choice, particularly as they do well in plant pots. Are emerald green arborvitaes and green giants easy to grow and maintain? Yes, so long as you select the correct tree for your zone then both trees are very easy to grow and require very little maintenance. However, depending on where you have it situated and how large you want it to become, green giant can require some trimming. How much space should you allow when planting emerald green arborvitae and green giant? As green giant is the bigger tree and grows with the bigger spread it obviously needs more space. When planting you should allow 2 to 3 feet between emerald green arborvitae trees and 3 to 5 feet between green giants.
