The two thuja varieties most commonly planted in gardens are Brabant and Smaragd. The heart of most gardeners beats for the emerald thuja. However, the Brabant thuja is much better suited for hedges. Brabant or Smaragd – which variety should you plant best?
Thuja Brabant or Smaragd – which variety is better?
Thuja Brabant is recommended for hedges because it is robust, easy to care for and offers denser growth. The Thuja Smaragd, on the other hand, is elegant and is perfect as a solitary plant in the garden or in a pot.
Which Thuja variety is more recommended – Brabant or Smaragd?
The Smaragd Thuja is without a doubt one of the most beautiful Thuja varieties. It impresses with its beautiful dark emerald green and elegant growth. However, Thuja Smaragd is not necessarily suitable for every purpose.
The much more robust Brabant variety is often the better choice. It may not look as decorative, but it is much easier to care for and therefore cheaper to create a hedge.
Which type of thuja you plant depends on whether you want to maintain a hedge or a solitary thuja in the garden or in a container.
Differences between Thuja Brabant and Smaragd
The characteristics of the Brabant thuja:
- Very robust
- cheap variety
- hardly any failures
- easy care
- dense planting distance possible
- grows more in width
Characteristics of Emerald Thuja:
- Somewhat sensitive
- expensive to buy
- doesn't always grow well
- needs larger planting distance
- very slim shape
- grows in a cone shape
Important criterion: The planting distance
You can plant a Thuja Brabant closer than a Thuja Smaragd. If emerald is too close, she will worry and cannot develop properly.
The Brabant tree of life should be planted at a distance of around 40 centimeters; for smaragd it should be at least 70 to 80 centimeters apart.
Due to the larger planting distance, it takes significantly longer for the emerald arborvitae to grow an opaque hedge.
Conclusion: Brabant as a hedge – emerald as a solitaire
If you want to grow a thuja hedge that quickly becomes opaque, you should choose Brabant. Not only the planting distance, but also the more compact growth ensure better results.
Thuja emerald, on the other hand, is ideal as a single tree in the garden or in a container. This tree of life will quickly become the highlight of your garden design.
Tip
In addition to Brabant and Smaragd, there are numerous other Thuja varieties. They differ in color and sometimes also in location and care requirements. If necessary, seek advice from a garden specialist store.
