What Cedar Varieties Suit the Fraser Valley the Best for Hedging

The best and most commonly found cedar varieties used for hedging in the Fraser Valley are the Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, and the Emerald Cedar, Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”. The two cedars have been shown to do particularly well here in oceanic climate with wet winters and hot and dry summers. 

You will find both of these trees/shrubs used as hedging throughout the Fraser Valley. They are long lived, sturdy, disease-resistant, and very hardy once established. The Western Red Cedar is native to the Pacific Northwest, and Thuja occidentalis is native to the east coast, although the cultivar, “Smaragd”, was bred in Europe. 

Western Red Cedar 

If we examine just the Western Red Cedar compared to the Emerald Cedar, the Western Red is a bigger specimen. It has a coarser texture, a slightly darker green colouring, and planted alone will become a giant tree. So, planted as a hedge, you can give it more space than the Emerald, which the Western Red will happily fill in over time. 

Emerald Cedar 

The Emerald Cedar has a slighter lighter and brighter green colouring. It is comparatively smaller, narrower, and could be planted closer together. The texture is finer and more delicate to look at. 

Both types can be pruned to become any size or shape you want in the Fraser Valley, but it will be easier to keep the Emerald small if that is your goal because the Western Red naturally wants to get big. 

Keep in mind that plants in the genus, Thuja, are not true cedars, but they are commonly referred to as cedars. None of that matters. Either of these mentioned above will do well in your yard in the Fraser Valley, just be sure to water them lots for the first couple of summers and when they are first planted to give them a healthy head start. 

For cedar hedging, give us a call on the Lower Mainland at (778) 241-5664. This is our business and area of expertise. 

Pacific West Cedars, based in Langley, British Columbia, farms, supplies, and installs cedar hedging on the Lower Mainland. They offer two kinds of cedars plus boxwoods: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), and Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”). They work with landscapers, contractors, and also directly with the public. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cedars, we encourage you to call us at (778) 241-5664.