Pygmy Caragana vs Emerald Cedar - TreeTime.ca

Pygmy Caragana vs Emerald Cedar

Caragana pygmaea

Thuja occidentalis Smaragd

CUSTOM GROW

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Pygmy Caragana
Emerald Cedar

Pygmy Caragana is a shrub that is related to Common Caragana and has a compact size that is suitable for yards with limited space. Its size is perfect for landscaping and decorative hedges, and requires little maintenance. This nitrogen fixer has fine-textured foliage and small yellow flowers. Much like Common Caragana, it is hardy and drought tolerant.

Popular as a low maintenance commercial landscaping shrub and for hedging. This species does have tiny spines that might poke you a bit. It has a nice appealing texture when mature.

Emerald Cedar makes a great addition to landscapes, and is often used to form tight hedges or privacy screens. The thick scale-like foliage adds texture and colour to yards and is commonly used to line driveways. Unlike other cedars it retains its green colour throughout the fall and winter.

It is a semi dwarf species, which generally needs little pruning, but if desired it responds well to trimming. Its attractive, columnar shape and dense foliage makes it a desired landscape feature.

The Emerald Cedar won the award of merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Pygmy Caragana Quick Facts

Emerald Cedar Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 2a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Flowers: prolific tiny yellow pea-like flowers
Seeds: prolific seedpods are edible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: pygmy peashrub
Other Names: smaragd arborvitae, thuja occidentalis emeraude