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Emerald Petite Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Thusid4'
Emerald Petite Arborvitae is a compact, slow-growing evergreen prized for its dense, vibrant green foliage and naturally narrow, pyramidal shape. Ideal for low hedges, foundation plantings, or formal garden borders, this dwarf arborvitae offers year-round structure and color in small spaces with minimal maintenance.
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Emerald Petite Arborvitae for Sale Online
Emerald Petite Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Petite') is a charming, compact evergreen shrub that delivers elegant structure and year-round color to any landscape. A dwarf form of the popular Emerald Green Arborvitae, Emerald Petite grows slowly to a mature height of just 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, making it perfect for tight spaces, low hedges, foundation plantings, and formal garden designs. Its dense, bright green foliage maintains its vibrant color even through the winter months, providing reliable visual interest in all seasons.
This cold-hardy, low-maintenance conifer thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to a variety of well-drained soils. Emerald Petite Arborvitae is an excellent option for creating small-scale privacy screens or neat vertical accents in landscape beds. Its naturally narrow, pyramidal habit requires little pruning to maintain its tidy form, making it ideal for homeowners who want a structured, easy-care evergreen. It’s also tolerant of urban conditions, including air pollution, which makes it a smart choice for both suburban yards and city gardens.
Whether you’re edging a walkway, creating a backdrop for flowering perennials, or looking for a petite evergreen for a patio container, Emerald Petite Arborvitae offers classic beauty in a scaled-down size. Its refined appearance and dependable performance make it a standout addition to any formal or contemporary landscape. Plant it in rows for a polished hedge or use it as a solo specimen to highlight its symmetrical form—either way, this compact arborvitae brings lasting structure and lush greenery to your outdoor space.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-7 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 4 to 6 feet |
| Mature Width: | 2 to 3 feet |
| Sunlight: | Full sun |
| Foliage Color: | Glossy bright green |
| Growth Form: | Dense upright and conical |
| Soil Conditions: | Grows best in moist, well drained soils. Acidic, alkaline, and neutral soils all OK |
| Water Requirements: | Keep hydrated in well draining soil |
How to Care for Emerald Petite Arborvitae
Once you buy an Emerald Petite Arborvitae, make sure to read about the care instructions that are required and recommended to keep this plant healthy and thriving.
How to plant Emerald Petite Arborvitae trees?
To plant an Emerald Petite Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Petite'), choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil. Start by digging a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, allowing the plant to sit level with the surrounding ground. Gently remove the arborvitae from its container, loosen the roots if they’re compacted, and place the plant in the hole. Backfill with soil, firming it gently around the base, and water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets and help the roots establish. If planting multiple shrubs to form a hedge or screen, space them 2 to 3 feet apart to allow for proper air circulation and uniform growth. After planting, apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the Emerald Petite Arborvitae, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture-related rot. This mulch layer will help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. During the first growing season, water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Once established, this low-maintenance evergreen becomes drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal care. Planting Emerald Petite Arborvitae properly sets the stage for a compact, lush hedge or accent that delivers reliable, year-round beauty and structure in even the smallest garden spaces.
How do I fertilize an Emerald Petite Arborvitae Trees?
Fertilizing an Emerald Petite Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Petite') helps maintain its vibrant green foliage and encourages steady, healthy growth. In early spring, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs—ideally with an N-P-K ratio like 10-10-10 or 12-6-6. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the base of the shrub, staying a few inches away from the trunk to prevent root burn. After applying the fertilizer, water the area thoroughly to help nutrients absorb into the soil and reach the plant’s root system. A single annual application is usually sufficient, especially since Emerald Petite Arborvitae is a slow-growing, low-maintenance plant. For gardeners seeking a more organic approach, incorporating compost or well-aged manure into the soil in early spring can provide a steady source of nutrients throughout the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive, weak growth that may reduce the plant's dense, compact habit. Fertilizing regularly—but moderately—ensures your Emerald Petite Arborvitae maintains its tight, pyramidal form and rich green color, making it an ideal choice for formal borders, foundation plantings, or tidy low hedges in both residential and commercial landscapes. Proper feeding will keep this compact conifer healthy, beautiful, and thriving year after year.
How to water Emerald Petite Arborvitae trees?
Watering an Emerald Petite Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Petite') correctly is essential, especially during its first year of growth. After planting, water the shrub deeply two to three times per week to help the root system establish. Focus on soaking the soil at the base rather than watering overhead, which can encourage fungal issues. Keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy—Emerald Petite prefers well-drained soil and can suffer from root rot if left in standing water. During hot or dry weather, check the soil regularly and adjust watering as needed to maintain consistent moisture. Once established, Emerald Petite Arborvitae becomes more drought-tolerant but still benefits from regular watering during prolonged dry spells. Deep watering every 7 to 10 days in summer is usually sufficient, depending on your soil and climate. Applying a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, but be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. Consistent watering supports dense, lush foliage and healthy growth, ensuring that your Emerald Petite Arborvitae remains a beautiful, low-maintenance evergreen accent in your landscape.
How do I prune an Emerald Petite Arborvitae trees?
Pruning an Emerald Petite Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Petite') is simple and typically minimal, thanks to its naturally compact, pyramidal growth habit. The best time to prune is in late spring or early summer, after the first flush of new growth has appeared. Use sharp hand pruners or hedge shears to lightly trim stray or uneven branches, shaping the shrub to maintain its dense form. Avoid cutting into old wood or the interior of the plant where there are no green needles, as arborvitae does not regenerate from bare wood. Light, annual pruning helps retain the shrub’s neat appearance and encourages thicker, more uniform growth. If using Emerald Petite Arborvitae for a low hedge or formal border, you may choose to perform more precise shaping to maintain a uniform line. Always prune just the tips of the green foliage and avoid over-shearing, which can stress the plant and reduce its natural beauty. Removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches at any time of year will keep the shrub healthy and visually appealing. With its slow growth rate and tidy form, Emerald Petite requires very little maintenance—just a light touch each season to keep it looking polished and structured in your landscape design.
Additional Information
We are so grateful that our friends at Sidhu and sons nursery in British Columbia Canada have develloped the Emerald Petite Arborvitae new for 2021. It's an honor to be one of the first nurseries in America to sell this unique gem of a specimen tree.
Emerald petite offers all of the sought-after attributes of the Emerald Green arborvitae in a smaller package. For many years urban gardeners have dreamed of a compact evergreen that can be planted along property lines or fences to add privacy without taking up too much valuable lawn space. The new Emerald Petite Cedar is unsurpassed in how perfectly it will fit into smaller gardens and landscapes.
Emerald Petite Dwarf Arborvitae reaches a mature size of 6 feet tall and only 2 feet wide. Its dense foliage will add privacy to your outdoor living spaces without overpowering the area. It requires no pruning to maintain its upright shape and the bright green foliage acts as an excellent backdrop for planting smaller shrubs. Emerald petite arborvitae pairs well with smaller to midsized flowering shrubs. The root system is fibrous and won't outcompete other plants for water and nutrients.
We recommend planting shrubs with colorful foliage and branches in front of emerald petite to add depth and dimension in the garden. Bright gold’s and reds will pop in front of the green foliage and in the winter months the branches of red twig dogwoods or the bright red berries of dwarf wintergreen hollies will stand out and add color to the garden during the dark winter months. Because the dense evergreen foliage reaches all the way to the ground Petite Emerald is perfect to use a a living privacy fence and can also be used to block breezes from your patio or sitting area. Petite emerald arborvitae also makes an excellent centerpiece in patio planters and entryways. The dense foliage is able to withstand snow loads so no worries about splitting or spreading during snowy periods.
Arborvitae Emerald Petite is a member of the Thuja occidentalis family also known as white cedar or American Arborvitae. Its native Range stretches from eastern Canada to much of the northern United States including the northeast. Being native to these areas means that this dwarf arborvitae is well-suited to grown just about anywhere in the United States. It is virtually disease and pest free which is an added bonus for the inexperienced gardener. Deer find the thuja occidentalis family very tasty so this plant is not recommended for areas where grazing deer can be a problem.
Emerald Petite Cedar is hardy to zone 3 in the north so theres no worries as far as hardiness is concerned. It can be planted in the full sun and shows no sign of burning. It does prefer moist but well drained soil and is not fussy about being in acidic soil or alkaline soils. When properly planted these trees can be expected to live for many years with little to no fuss.
