Emerald green arborvitae are best planted in the fall when they will experience minimal heat stress. Their foliage consists of flat sprays of glossy bright green needles, plus urn-shaped cones about an inch long that turn reddish-brown in the fall. Occasionally, this plant is pruned to form spiral topiaries
Arborvitae are trees in the cypress family that are often used for hedges. All arborvitae are types ofThuja, and there are two major types. Thuja occidentalis or eastern arborvitae are native to the eastern U.S. and are the most common; however, a significant shortcoming is deer will eat them. Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is native to the western U.S. The western type is bigger and grows more quickly. They are deer resistant but are not as cold-hardy.