Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green

Brandon Arborvitae and Emerald Green are both evergreen conifer trees that grow tall and dense, but there are a few differences between them. Let’s take a closer look at these two magnificent trees and discover what holds Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green apart.

Difference Between Brandon Arborvitae and Emerald Green

There are two main differences between these evergreen trees. The first is height. Brandon Arborvitae is taller and will reach 20 feet tall, whereas Emerald Green rarely gets above 15 feet. The second difference is their foliage color because Emerald Green will stay vivid green all year-round, but Brandon Arborvitae takes on an attractive bronze shade in winter.

What is Arborvitae?

Arborvitaes are evergreen conifer trees in the cypress Cupressaceae family. The species has many different names including swamp cedar, American arborvitae, Northern white cedar, and Eastern white cedar, but the botanical name is Thuja occidentalis.

Be sure not to mix up arborvitae northern or eastern white cedars with cedar trees, which are a different tree genus.  

There are many thuja cultivars, including Brandon Arborvitae and Emerald Green. They come in many differing sizes and shades but all are mainly used for landscaping, hedges, or screens. They’re often found in cemeteries and parks.

Where is Arborvitae Native?

Arborvitaes are native to northcentral and northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The name arborvitae is Latin for tree of life (arbor = tree and vitae = life) due to their evergreen needles and the essential oils from their sap and bark which have been used for medicine, insecticides, headache relief, and bowel treatments for centuries.

The genus name thuja is Ancient Greek for perfume and if you rub the scaly foliage of Brandon Arborvitae or Emerald Green you’ll see why. It’s because they release a sweet scent. Occidentalis means west, which describes where thuja occidentalis grows natively.

Traditional Ojibwe (Anishinaabe people that are native to modern southern Canada and the Midwestern United States) called arborvitae trees Grandmother Cedar and honor them as the north plant of their medicine wheel.

This article from the journal Molecules discussed thuja’s medicinal properties. It appears our ancestors were correct, thuja occidentalis has an array of medical uses in its essential oil.

Arborvitae trees have a long and varied history alongside humans and current research indicates this relationship will only strengthen in the future.

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Also known as Smaragd, Emerald Green is one of the most common Arborvitae cultivars planted in the United States. It was cultivated around 30 years ago and has the most vivid green shade throughout the full year. It’ll reach 12-15 feet tall and about 7 feet wide, so it’s a hefty tree and it certainly needs room to grow!

Brandon Arborvitae

Brandon Arborvitae is a narrow, spire-like evergreen tree with dark green foliage that turns bronze in winter. It’s an excellent vertical accent and taller than Emerald Green at 20 feet, though it spreads roughly the same width.

Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green Growing Zones

Both Brandon arborvitae and Emerald Green grow in a wide range of zones, and they are so tough and hardy that they can cope with temperatures that fall to -40 degrees!

They are best grown in zone 2b to 7 because anything above zone 7 is too humid. These evergreens like it sunny but cold and high humidity in tropical areas can lead to fungal infections.

Height and Spread of Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green

Brandon Arborvitae reaches 20 feet tall and 8 feet wide, whereas Emerald Green is a little smaller, at 15 feet tall and 7-8 feet wide.

They are both large trees that can disrupt building foundations, so they need to be planted a good distance from patios, houses, and roads.

A 20 feet tall tree sounds tall, but there are species in the thuja genus that can reach 200 feet or more!

The Difference Between Brandon and Emerald Green Foliage

Brandon Arborvitae has dark green foliage that matures to bronze shades as winter approaches. It’s a multi-branched evergreen tree with scale-like sprays or feathery flat leaves on an upright pyramidal habit.

In contrast, Emerald Green has larger, tougher-looking sprays of scale-like foliage but the main difference is that it stays bright emerald green all year round, it doesn’t turn bronze like the cultivar Brandon.

Their foliage also has a few things in common such as a dislike of salt sprays. Neither of these thujas will enjoy a coastal spot where salt-laden winds will burn their scaly foliage.

Another similarity is their denseness. Both Emerald Green and Brandon Arborvitae have such dense foliage they make ideal privacy screens and hideaways for nesting birds, pollinators and squirrels!

How Fast Does Brandon Arborvitae and Emerald Green Grow?

Brandon is a slow grower. It’ll gain 12-24 inches every year once it’s established. In the first year or so, it’s not uncommon for Brandon to grow more than 24 inches. In contrast, Emerald Green is even slower! It only puts on 9 inches a year after it’s established.

Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green: Sun Exposure

Thuja is very hardy so the cultivars Brandon and Emerald Green will both grow in full sun or partial shade. They are versatile hedges and screening trees for lots of outside spaces.

For the best foliage color, aim to let these trees have at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day

Does Brandon Arborvitae Flower?

Yes, Brandon Arborvitae and Emerald Green both produce flowers in April to May, but they are so tiny and insignificant that you might not even see them. Both species have individual male or female flowers and they’re pollinated by wind, just like sweetcorn.

Do Arborvitae Produce Cones?

Yes. Emerald Green produces cones about half an inch long that turn brown in fall and Brandon’s are very similar. If you’re a fan of cones, these may disappoint because they are very sparse and open rather than the tightly packed holiday season cones we get from pine trees.

Is Arborvitae Toxic For Dogs?

Yes, if dogs, cats, or horses chew on thuja occidentalis, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. It’s the concentration of essential oils that are toxic. It’s toxic to humans, too, and can badly affect the digestive system if its eaten.

However, there are a few animals that love to eat thuja species, including the Brandon and Emerald Green cultivars. First up, we have deer, who enjoy eating the foliage. Large herds can strip young thuja trees bare!

There are also a few Lepidoptera species that claim thuja as their habitat, such as the juniper pug moth. Their larvae emerge from tiny eggs to eat as much thuja foliage as possible before cocooning themselves and emerging as fantastic moths.  

Brandon Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green: Which is Best?

That’s a tough question because they are both similar trees with dense evergreen foliage. The best one is really down to what suits your space best.

Emerald Green is denser and shorter than Brandon Arborvitae, at 15 feet max, so it’s a better choice for an in-garden privacy screen. It also grows a little more slowly, so it won’t outgrow its welcome too quickly.

On the other hand, Brandon is taller, so it makes a better boundary tree or screen with its greater height of 20 feet. Five feet can make a big difference if your neighbor is looking directly into your bedroom window!

Brandon Arborvitae will change color to winter bronze, so if you like change, it might be a better choice. If you have a fixed color scheme and want a permanently bright green arborvitae, then Emerald Green comes out on top.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Aliaksandr Yarmashchuk