Arborvitae Choices?

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doyledh Columbia, SC Mar 16, 2007

I need some screening in the back yard and am looking at various arborvitae. This Columbia, SC, zone 7-8. The area is full sun, and well drained. I want the tree to grow to about 15 feet. I want to avoid the Leyland cypress, the default conifer in this area, because of problems w disease and because it is too pyramidal for our tastes. I saw the Emerald Green today and loved its color, density, and compact shape. Trees of about 5 feet were $89 each. I saw the Green Giant also and it looked more scraggly than the Emerald Green, but I understand it will grow faster than the Emerald. I have read about the Steeplechase, a sport of the Green Giant that is supposed to be a good, fast growing, alternative.
Like so many in this world, I want contradictory things: a fast growing screen, but not too big and ungainly 10 years from now.
What are your thoughts. What is the growth rate for the Emerald Green? I'm reading 2 feet a year, 4 feet a year. Of course this will vary by location, but what range should I expect?


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PrairieGirlZ5 Thornton, IL Mar 16, 2007

That sounds right, they get big fast. How far South are you? They don't really do as well the hotter it gets. If I was buying one, I would look for Techny. I wouldn't pay $89 for one, they are pretty common here though. Here's my favorite link on some different cultivars.

http://www.aboutarborvitae.com/techny_arborvitae.shtml

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chamthy Selma, NC(Zone 7b) Mar 16, 2007

From what I've seen Emerald Green is the top choice in the south. Green Giants haven't been around long enough to really judge but would eventually reach leyland cypress height if happy. Where I work we have several Emerald Greens that were planted in 1996 at about a 3 gal size. They are roughly 8 or 9 feet tall now. The only problem has been bagworms.

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PrairieGirlZ5 Thornton, IL Mar 16, 2007

Well, you'll have that. Have you considered Burford holly? :P

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