Description
Thuja occidentalis 'Mr. Bowling Ball' shrub 20-30 cm C1 | Mr. Bowling Ball arborvitae
The Mr. Bowling Ball arborvitae shrub is the shrub-form of Thuja occidentalis 'Mr. Bowling Ball', with a compact, bushy habit that creates a rounded silhouette close to the ground. This is the low, rounded garden presentation of the cultivar, rather than another product form. Its green, evergreen foliage keeps that shape in view throughout the year, while an average mature height of around 90 cm gives it a modest scale for a UK garden. The product data describes this shrub as low maintenance, though it still needs suitable growing conditions. It is also fruit-bearing, but no further details about the fruit are provided. As a conifer shrub, it can add lasting green structure without taking up the visual role of a tall tree. Its rounded outline can be appreciated on its own or among other planting, where it provides a clear, low focal point. The cultivar name is ‘Mr. Bowling Ball’. For more plants in the same genus, see Thuja.
Key features of Mr. Bowling Ball arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Mr. Bowling Ball')
- This shrub has unobtrusive yellow-green flowers in April and May. Flowering is not a prominent feature, so its main interest is its evergreen green foliage and rounded outline. The foliage remains green through the year.
- Choose a position in sun or partial shade. The soil should be humus-rich, well drained and kept slightly moist. Prolonged dry conditions are unsuitable, as is waterlogged, poorly drained soil.
- The shrub form has a compact, bushy and globe-shaped habit, creating a low, rounded silhouette. It reaches an average mature height of around 90 cm; no mature width is specified. Its evergreen character and modest height make it worth considering among conifers for a UK garden.
Uses of Mr. Bowling Ball arborvitae shrub in the garden
- Use the compact shrub as a specimen planting where its rounded shape can be seen clearly. Its low outline gives a garden space a defined green accent without the taller presentation of a tree form.
- The plant is listed as suitable for pots and rock gardens. In these settings, the bushy, globe-shaped habit offers a distinct rounded feature, while the evergreen green foliage keeps its colour through the year.
- In a border or group planting, this shrub can provide a low, rounded point of structure among other plants. No particular companion plants are specified, so combinations can be planned around the planting already in the garden.
- Its stated hardiness is down to -40°C, and it is placed in USDA zones 3–7. These figures describe the supplied hardiness information and do not change its stated preference for well-drained, slightly moist soil.
For a compact accent in a garden or pot, the shrub form combines an evergreen presence with a clearly rounded silhouette.
