Wednesday, July 29, 2009

"Emerald", My Butt: Emerald vs. Brandon Cedars

I’d like to offer a public service to anyone in Saskatoon considering the purchase of an Emerald cedar for their yard, in the form of a bit of shocking news. You’ve seen them offered by the hundreds this year, from the Real Canadian Superstore to Canadian Tire. They’re beautiful, lush, green, and reasonably priced. And…

…they are NOT recommended for our climate!!!!!

Emerald cedars (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd') are rated for Zone 4. Saskatoon, like it or not, really is not Zone 4—it is Zone 3, at least when it comes to the planting and caring of pyramidal cedars. The Brandon cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is the one you want—if you can find it. For some reason or other, most of the major chains are carrying only Emerald cedars this year. Don’t buy them. Don’t, don’t, don’t. Some of those Emeralds, in fact, are already dying in the store’s lots.

I do own four of the things, lovingly nurtured for over a decade (note, however, that the ones in the photograph are the much more successful Brandons). If you do as I have done with my Emeralds—fertilize, water well, prune carefully—you too can have a nice crop of wilted brown lopsided monstrosities. Or you can pick up some Brandon Cedars, plunk ‘em in the ground, and watch a lush hedge sprout up in your yard. On my own property, I’ve got over two dozen Brandons, mostly purchased at end-of-season sales for three or four dollars. The older ones are taller than me now, and even thicker.

Why are so many places offering only Emerald cedars? One website I came across mentions the possibility of a breeding mix-up, coupled with a limited number of growers. There may be hope yet, though: http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0152/pnw0152.html says we may be able to start new Brandons from cuttings.

I did find Brandons at Wilson’s this year, so you might still be in luck. If all you can find are the Emeralds, do yourself a favour: keep your money in your wallet.

Also, Alberta Dwarf Spruce: despite the name, really only good for a warmer clime.

[Update, 4 October, 2010:  This past year has devastated even mature cedars across Saskatoon, either Emerald or Brandon.  I lost much of a row of my Brandons, some of which were 3 metres tall. It appears the better taken-care of ones went first, probably because of the bizarre heat wave last fall (lilacs blooming in September?) followed by a sudden death deepfreeze. Instead of taking their autumn soaking into their roots for winter, they put it into fast autumn growth. The resulting shock to the tender shoots destroyed many mature trees.

Sadly, with the shortage of real Brandons about, I've had to break my own rule and replace them with Emeralds. Lots of Emeralds. Lots and lots of them, in the hopes that some will survive to maturity.]

3 comments:

Dearjeff said...

Try Skybound cedars. They are rated zone 2 and are supposed to be much hardier than Emeralds. Sold at Wilsons as well.

L said...

Dear Preston,

I am a volunteer working on this year's Friends' School Plant Sale in St. Paul, MN. Our sale has grown to be the largest annual plant sale in Minnesota; it raises a good deal of scholarship money for the school and has for over 30 years. We have a wonderful print catalog each year, but it can only accommodate photos of a small percentage of the plants we offer. Our goal is to have a picture of each plant offered on the website. I am a volunteer tasked with finding the pictures for new plants for the online catalog and I am have a difficult time finding good photos of a Brandon cedar.

You have a beautiful photo on your blog.
http://thecreditonion.blogspot.com/2009/07/emerald-my-butt-emerald-vs-brandon.html

Might we use your photo? Proper attribution would be given.

If you would like to know more about our plant sale, here is our website: http://www.friendsschoolplantsale.com/history/ or you can ask me!

Please contact me if you have any questions,

Laurie Krivitz

Ani said...

I have seen Brandon Cedar in Canadian Superstore, Lowes, Rona, Canadian Tire, Costco everywhere. Could not find Skybound in these big box stores. Brandon Cedars are almost half the cost of the Skybound at Dutch Growers, floral acres, lakeshore garden.
Does the skybound cedar looks better? why these big box stores do not carry Skybound? Can you please suggest how to save money when buying skybound cedar?