The discussion reminds me of a story from my grad school days. One of the professors was an Asian fellow named Dr. Hu. When he first introduced himself he pronounced his name "Dr. Hugh", and that was how I subsequently referred to him. One day when talking about him with several of the other students, I was asked why I said his name that way since everyone else pronounced his name "Dr. Who". When I replied that that was how he himself pronounced his name so it had to be correct, I was informed that he only said it that way because of his accent. I thought this was a very funny statement but the other student was in earnest, the implication being that since I do not speak with a Chinese accent I should say the name the right way, "Dr. Hu". To this day, it still makes me chuckle to think of the student who believed that Dr. Hu prounced his own name wrong. Alex

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (Emerald Arborvitae) will almost always retain its conical shape, even as an old plant. This plant was selected because of its form. If you like the shape of the native trees you saw, you will need to get those cuttings to root since the Emerald arb. will never look like those trees, even in old age. I toured an amazing garden last Sunday that had "native" arborvitae and the trees were beautiful. The native trees have very different foliage (texture and form) and shape than all of the cultivars of thuja that are offered for sale. Regarding your "white cedar" question: you're dealing with a common name and common names vary depending on the region or even the neighborhood that you are in. Thuja occidentalis is NOT a "cedar"; true cedars belong to the genus cedrus. It's best to use the Latin names of plant so there is no question of the plant's identity. Most people are put-off by Latin names, but it's only because the names are unfamiliar to you. Once you start to use the Latin names, it gets easier and easier. Mike

There very well could be some 'Holstrump' at the US National Arb. I didn' see any however. Here's what (Jacobson - 'North American Landscape Trees') has to say: "Originated by nurseryman A.M. Jensen of Holmstrup, Denmark; introduced (~)1951. In North American commerce (~)1967. Common. Very columnar; compact, very slow to 10'15'; in effect a dwarf PYRAMIDAL ARBORVITAE (T. occidentalis 'Fastigiata'). Bright green year-round." Here's what he also says about 'Fastigiata': Named in 1865 in Germany. A wholly inapplicable name, as is the 1867 'Stricta'. The 1892 'Columnaris' is best, but nurseries prefer the 1907 name 'Pyramidalis'. The dates just cited are the officially recognized dates of publication, and "Pyramidalis" was in commercial used Lastly (Obrizok 'A Garden of Conifers - Introduction and Selection Guide') says this (about 'Holmstrup'): "Conical, very compact, slow growing, rich green foliage" The ACS Database (American Conifer Society), which need updating I now see, lists this cultivar as intermediate in growth (6-12 inches per year) - This info seems excessive to me. (Probably should be listed as dwarf). Dax

Thanks Al. I bought 270 of them as that was the minimum order from the wholesaler and I would like to use most of them for privacy trees around my yard. They are actually called American Pillar Arborvitae, they are a patented version of the green emerald but grow much quicker and much taller, officially 3 feet a year reaching 25 feet. They were a third of the price when buying wholesale, about $4 a piece, but that is why I need to replant them because they come in these tiny containers. What would you recommend me repotting them in? I can't use your gritty mix like I am using for my citrons because of the price, and also cutting up the pine bark is way too time consuming for that many trees. I figured that for only 4 months I can go with regular miracle grow potting mix. I was also thinking of mixing in some perlite to the miracle grow potting mix. I also liked the idea of the miracle grow because it has fertilizer and I won't have to fertilize.