Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae Live Plant – Dwarf Shrub 6-12 Inch Tall in Quart Pot, Outdoor

Overview

Bring distinctive elegance to your landscape with the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae, a truly exceptional dwarf evergreen shrub. This live plant is celebrated for its naturally spherical form and dense, finely textured green foliage, making it a captivating focal point in any garden setting. Unlike many other shrubs, the ‘Mr. Bowling Ball’ requires little to no pruning to maintain its perfect orb-like shape, appealing to both seasoned gardeners and beginners alike. Its compact size makes it an ideal choice for a variety of landscape applications, from defining borders to enhancing container arrangements on patios or balconies. Enjoy its vibrant green color and unique texture throughout all four seasons, adding consistent beauty and structure to your outdoor spaces. This particular offering provides a healthy Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae plant, approximately 6-12 inches tall, nurtured in a quart-sized pot, ready to thrive in your garden.

The botanical name for this variety is Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobazam’, commonly known as Eastern Arborvitae ‘Bobazam’ or simply ‘Mr. Bowling Ball’. It is a selection of the native Eastern Arborvitae, prized for its miniature growth habit and exceptional hardiness. This dwarf evergreen shrub is not only visually appealing but also a practical choice for gardeners seeking a plant that is both beautiful and manageable, thriving with minimal fuss while providing maximum aesthetic impact.

Key Benefits

The Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae offers a multitude of benefits that make it a standout choice for any garden. Its unique characteristics contribute to a beautiful, resilient, and effortless landscape:

• Compact & Rounded Form: Naturally grows into a perfect globe shape, requiring minimal to no pruning. This makes it an ideal choice for formal gardens, small spaces, or as a contrasting element against other plant forms.
• Year-Round Green Foliage: Provides consistent visual interest and color throughout all seasons, including winter. Its vibrant green needles offer a soft texture that enhances the garden’s aesthetic.
• Deer Resistant Plant: Known for its natural resistance to deer, making it an excellent option for areas where deer browsing is a concern. Enjoy your beautiful shrub without constant worry.
• Drought Tolerant Once Established: After its initial establishment period, this low maintenance shrub requires less frequent watering, making it suitable for water-wise gardening and reducing your landscape’s water consumption.
• Low Maintenance Shrub: Beyond its natural shape retention, the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is generally pest and disease-free, reducing the need for chemical treatments and extensive care.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for creating low hedges, foundation plantings, rock gardens, or as an elegant specimen plant in containers on patios and decks. Its adaptable nature fits various garden designs.
• Child and Pet-Safe: Provides peace of mind for families, as this shrub is considered non-toxic to children and common household pets.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is straightforward, ensuring this dwarf evergreen shrub remains a healthy and attractive feature in your garden for years to come. This hardy plant thrives with relatively minimal attention once established. For optimal growth, choose a location that receives full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate some partial shade, the best growth and densest foliage will occur in brighter conditions. Ensure the soil is well-drained; arborvitae dislike consistently wet feet, which can lead to root rot. If your soil is heavy clay, consider amending it with organic matter to improve drainage before planting.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is crucial during the initial establishment phase, typically the first year after planting. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Once established, this compact arborvitae becomes quite drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent irrigation. However, during prolonged dry spells, especially in hot climates, supplemental watering will benefit the plant. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for evergreens. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Pruning is rarely necessary for the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae, as it naturally maintains its spherical shape. Any light trimming can be done in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches, or to slightly refine its form.

This resilient shrub is adaptable to a wide range of climates, thriving in USDA Zones 5-8. It can withstand cold winters and moderate summers, making it a reliable choice for many regions. While generally robust, ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal issues in humid environments. Its natural resistance to pests and diseases, coupled with its status as a deer resistant plant, further simplifies its care, allowing you more time to enjoy its beauty.

Size & Details

The Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae offered here is a healthy live plant, typically measuring 6-12 inches in height at the time of shipment. It arrives securely planted in a quart-sized nursery pot, providing a robust root system ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. This particular variety is a true dwarf, naturally growing into a compact, rounded form. At maturity, expect your dwarf evergreen shrub to reach an approximate height and width of 2-3 feet, making it perfectly suited for small gardens, borders, and container gardening where space is a consideration. Its slow growth rate means it will maintain its neat appearance for many years with very little intervention.

The plant’s distinctive, finely textured green foliage remains attractive throughout the year, offering continuous visual interest. It ships as a well-rooted, actively growing specimen, carefully packaged to ensure its safe arrival. With proper care, this compact arborvitae will quickly settle into its new environment and begin to flourish, adding its unique charm to your outdoor space. Its robust nature and manageable size make it an excellent long-term addition to any landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will this Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae get at maturity? A: The Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is a dwarf variety, typically reaching a mature height and width of 2-3 feet. Its compact size makes it ideal for various garden applications without becoming overgrown.
• Q: What kind of soil does the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae prefer? A: This dwarf evergreen shrub thrives in well-drained soil. While adaptable to various soil types, it’s crucial to ensure good drainage to prevent root issues. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter is recommended.
• Q: How often should I water this low maintenance shrub? A: Water regularly and deeply after planting to help establish its root system, usually for the first year. Once established, the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is drought-tolerant and will require minimal watering, though supplemental water during dry spells is beneficial.
• Q: Is this compact arborvitae a deer resistant plant? A: Yes, the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is well-known for its natural deer resistance. This makes it a great choice for gardens in areas with deer populations, providing peace of mind.
• Q: Can I grow the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae in a container? A: Absolutely! Its compact size and naturally rounded shape make the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae an excellent choice for container gardening on patios, balconies, or as an accent piece in garden beds.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones are suitable for this plant? A: This hardy dwarf evergreen shrub is suitable for USDA Zones 5-8, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates across the United States.
• Q: Does the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae require much pruning? A: No, one of the key benefits of this low maintenance shrub is that it naturally maintains its perfect spherical shape. Minimal to no pruning is required, only occasional removal of dead or damaged branches.
• Q: What sunlight exposure does the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae need? A: For the best growth and densest foliage, the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae prefers full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate some partial shade, but growth may be less vigorous.
• Q: Is this plant safe for pets and children? A: Yes, the Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae is generally considered child and pet-safe, offering a worry-free addition to family gardens.
• Q: What will the plant look like when it arrives? A: Your Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae will arrive as a healthy, actively growing live plant, approximately 6-12 inches tall, securely packaged in its quart-sized nursery pot, ready for planting.