Thuja occidentalis Golden Smaragd

The  Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Smaragd' is a small Canadian Thuja with a fairly narrow conical habit and decorative evergreen yellow-gold foliage. Its slow growth and modest adult size allow for many uses, in a rockery, as a solitary specimen, in a border with perennials or shrubs, or even in a large pot on the terrace. It is also a hardy conifer, resistant to wind and pollution, which thrives in a well-drained soil that is not too dry, and in a sunny position to fully express its golden hue. 

The Thuja occidentalis, also known as Canadian Thuja or Western Thuja, is sometimes called White Cedar of Canada or Balai. It is an evergreen conifer of the Cupressaceae family native to northeastern North America. In the wild, it reaches a height of 15 to 20 m (49 ft 2 in to 65 ft 7 in), with a beautiful conical habit and a trunk covered with a highly decorative reddish-brown exfoliating bark. It is a perfectly hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and poor, moist, or occasionally dry soils. Its almost rot-resistant, lightweight, fragrant, and easily flammable wood is used for many purposes. It has given rise to more than 300 cultivars that have been selected for their ornamental qualities.

The 'Golden Smaragd' variety is a recent introduction to the market (2009). It is the golden version of the famous 'Smaragd' Thuja, which was obtained by Poulsen and widely used in gardens. 'Golden Smaragd' has a similar conical habit, slightly swollen at the base, but in a smaller size, reaching only 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height after 10 years, with a spread of 80 cm (31.5 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in). Its fine foliage consists of flattened branches arranged in planes and covered with scale-like leaves 3 to 5 mm long. The leaves, overlapping each other, give the branchlets a characteristic flat appearance. In partial shade, its foliage is yellow-green, but it needs sunlight to develop its beautiful yellow colour with golden reflections, which is its main aesthetic feature. 

The 'Golden Smaragd' Western Thuja will find its place in any garden, even the smallest, as it is a magnificent and undemanding plant that requires very little maintenance. It can be planted in a large rockery, as a small screen, freely or in groups of three near an entrance. It can also be planted in a beautiful container on the terrace or balcony. In this case, regular watering is necessary, as the growing conditions are harsher than in open ground. It pairs well with more disorderly shrubs, large stones, geometric lines of swimming pools or buildings, and masonry structures. It can be combined with other small-sized conifers to create contrasting shapes and colours for maximum decorative effect. The Sitka Spruce 'Silberzwerg' (silver dwarf in German) with its globular gray-blue habit will be a great companion. The Pinus mugo Lilliput with its spreading, densely branched habit and dark green needles will create an extremely original and decorative scene alongside our little 'Golden Smaragd' Thuja.