Arborvitae trees are a popular choice for homeowners seeking year-round privacy, wind protection, and a natural green backdrop. This guide highlights five top options that balance fast growth, dense foliage, and low maintenance. Each featured product includes key traits to help you choose the right evergreen screen for your yard, porch, or boundary line.
| Product | Brand | Notable Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant (1 Gallon, 5-Pack) | PERFECT PLANTS | Fast-growing privacy screen |
| Thuja Green Giant (18-Pack) | PERFECT PLANTS | Instant privacy with multiple liners |
| Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae (8-12″) | Thuja | Beginner-friendly starter trees |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae (2-3 Feet) | Tree Tots | Compact privacy option |
| Thuja Green Giant (3 Gallon) | PERFECT PLANTS | Rapid privacy growth |
PERFECT PLANTS Thuja Green Giant 1 Gallon 5-Pack
The Thuja Green Giant is widely regarded as a premier fast-growing privacy tree for much of the United States. This large evergreen has dense, dark green foliage that carries a subtle Christmas-tree scent when broken. It grows with a wide bottomed pyramidal shape and can reach up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide at full maturity. Pruning keeps the plant at your preferred size, making it adaptable for tight urban yards or expansive lots.
Key considerations: suitability for your climate, spacing needs, and long-term maintenance. As a leading privacy option, these trees can form an almost impenetrable screen when planted in staggered rows. For busy homeowners, the 1-gallon size is a flexible starting point that can mature into a formidable barrier over several seasons.
PERFECT PLANTS Thuja Green Giant Plant 18-Pack
This value-packed kit provides 18 individual Thuja Green Giant liners, ideal for instantly forming a lush privacy screen or windbreak. The dense, dark green foliage maintains a rich appearance throughout the year. While this kit enhances privacy quickly, note that shipments to certain states may require cancellation or restrictions, so plan accordingly to your local regulations.
Considerations include how you intend to space and plant the liners, your soil type, and whether you want a barrier that also dampens road noise or neighbor views. The group planting approach reduces the wait time for full screening and offers a durable, long-term privacy solution.
Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae (8-12" Tall)
These starter-sized Thuja Green Giants are recommended to have adequate time to root before cold weather arrives. Each tree should establish roots for at least 12 weeks, increasing the likelihood of overwinter survival. They form a sturdy privacy screen as they mature, and their pyramidal shape lends an elegant, natural fence along property lines.
Prospective buyers should consider the climate, winter conditions, and the care interval needed to ensure healthy establishment. Regular watering during establishment supports root growth and helps the trees reach their full privacy potential in subsequent seasons.
PERFECT PLANTS Thuja Green Giant 1 Gallon
This 1-gallon version emphasizes a repeatable, dense growth habit with the same characteristic aroma and evergreen appeal. The plant reaches substantial height and width at maturity, offering a reliable privacy screen and an effective windbreak. It’s suitable for homeowners who want gradual privacy with the option to prune into a personalized silhouette over time.
Key considerations include eventual mature size, spacing for optimal growth, and how you plan to manage height to maintain a balance with your home’s architecture. The Green Giant’s robustness makes it a staple for landscape privacy projects across various U.S. regions.
Thuja Arborvitae Green Giant (10 Live Quart Size)
This product features 10 live quart-size Green Giant plants, designed to establish a dense canopy quickly. Their rapid growth makes them an efficient option for a long-lasting privacy fence, windbreak, or living border. Adequate spacing and consistent watering during the first growing season help promote strong root systems and uniform canopy development.
Important considerations include climate compatibility, soil drainage, and ongoing maintenance needs. These plants align well with landscapes aiming for a quick, low-maintenance privacy screen that retains year-round green color and a natural appearance.
Emerald Green Arborvitae Privacy Tree (2-3 Feet)
Emerald Green Arborvitae offers year-round privacy with dense evergreen foliage and moderate height, reaching up to 14-16 feet tall when mature. This variety is ideal for creating a natural living fence in smaller yards or along patios without overwhelming the space. It requires minimal pruning, simplifying upkeep compared with larger screen options.
Consider sun exposure and soil type. Emerald Green trees thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They provide a clean, uniform look that complements modern and traditional landscapes alike.
Thuja Green Giant Hedges And Snaps: Buying Guide
When choosing arborvitae for privacy, consider growth rate, mature size, climate suitability, soil conditions, and maintenance. Fast-growing varieties deliver privacy quickly but may require regular pruning to maintain shape. Slower-growing options offer durable screens with less pruning but longer wait times to reach full height.
Key factors to evaluate:
- Climate adaptability: Check hardiness zones and winter survivability for your area.
- Soil and drainage: Ensure well-drained soil or amend as needed; arborvitae tolerate a range of soils but prefer moisture balance.
- Sun exposure: Most arborvitae thrive in full sun; shade can slow growth and reduce density.
- Spacing and planning: Plant in staggered rows to maximize density and minimize gaps.
- Maintenance needs: Consider irrigation during establishment and routine pruning for shape control.
Accessibility and shipping constraints may influence availability in certain states or regions. Evaluate producer reputations, warranty options, and any restrictions before purchasing large quantities for immediate privacy needs.
Additional Perspectives
For urban settings, compact or dwarfed varieties can still deliver privacy without overwhelming space. In rural yards, larger cultivars provide robust windbreaks and noise reduction. Consider multi-species hedges by combining arborvitae with complementary evergreens for varied texture and color across seasons. Regular monitoring for pests and diseases helps sustain a healthy privacy screen over time.
Buying Guide
Key purchase considerations help you choose the best arborvitae for your privacy goals:
- Growth pace: Fast growers deliver screening faster but may require more pruning and care.
- Mature dimensions: Ensure the selected plant will not outgrow the space or interfere with structures.
- Site fit: Evaluate sun, soil drainage, and available space for optimal root and canopy development.
- Maintenance plan: Determine irrigation needs, pruning frequency, and fertilization strategy.
- Climate compatibility: Align with your USDA hardiness zone to maximize winter hardiness and vigor.
- Privacy needs: Decide between a single thick line or a staggered, layered screen for depth and wind protection.
Across the options presented, the Thuja Green Giant family stands out for rapid privacy, while Emerald Green provides a compact, low-maintenance alternative. Your choice should align with yard size, climate, and long-term landscaping plans to achieve a robust, year-round screen.