Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae

• Slow; typically grows about 3 to 6 inches per year under optimal conditions.

Attracts birds and small mammals, providing them with shelter and food sources throughout the year.

• Season of Interest: Year-round
• Winter Interest: Retains its rich green color through winter, providing a soft, vibrant touch against the cold landscape.

• Foundation Planting – Compact, globe shape makes it perfect for planting near buildings.
  
• Formal Gardens – Excellent in symmetrical plantings or paired with boxwood.
  
• Low Hedges or Borders – Provides structure and neat form in borders.
  
• Rock Gardens – Compact size and fine texture make it suitable for dry, open spaces.
  
• Container Gardening – Works well in pots with proper drainage.
  
• Accent Plant – Adds evergreen color and texture year-round in small spaces.
  
  

• Leaves: Soft, scale-like leaves that are bright green in spring and summer, turning to a more bronze hue in the fall and winter.
• Texture: The foliage is dense and has a pleasant texture, adding visual interest to your garden.

• Flowering Period: This cultivar does not produce significant flowers.
• Flower Description: As a conifer, it produces small cones instead of traditional flowers.

Minimal pruning needed. Light shaping can be done in late winter or early spring if desired.

Requires regular watering during the first year to establish roots. Once established, it prefers moderate watering, especially during dry spells.

Thrives in full sun to partial shade, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Not applicable; primarily ornamental.

Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth.

• Pest and Disease Resistance: Generally resistant to pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance option.
• Mulching: Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Wind-pollinated; does not require animal pollinators.

 Perennials:

• Heuchera ‘Caramel’ or ‘Obsidian’
  – Offers bright or deep-colored foliage for year-round contrast beneath or beside the green ball shape.
  
• Hosta varieties
  – Broad, dramatic leaves contrast beautifully with the delicate texture of Thuja.
  
• Nepeta 'Walker's Low'
  – Lavender-blue flowers and soft mounded form echo the round shape while adding pollinator appeal.
  
• Salvia nemorosa
  – Spiky flowers in purple or blue provide a strong vertical accent next to the rounded thuja.
  
• Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’
  – Airy, yellow flowers brighten up the green tones and bloom over a long season.
  

 Flowering Shrubs:

• Spiraea 'Magic Carpet' or 'Goldflame'
  – Bright foliage and pink flowers pop against the subtle green of Mr. Bowling Ball.
  
• Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo' or 'Little Lime'
  – Compact flowering shrubs with creamy or pink blooms that balance Thuja’s shape and add summer interest.
  
• Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
  – Dark red foliage provides high-contrast color and a tidy habit to complement the thuja.
  
• Rosa ‘The Fairy’
  – Small shrub rose with continual pink blooms offers softness and romance next to evergreen structure.
  

 Grasses and Groundcovers:

• Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue)
  – Soft blue-gray clumps add a cool tone and echo the rounded form of the thuja.
  
• Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’
  – Graceful, variegated grass that lightens up plantings and works in part shade.
  
• Sedum 'Angelina'
  – Golden foliage complements green tones and spills nicely at the base.
  
• Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop'
  – Deep purple foliage groundcover adds richness and contrast in lower layers.