Franky Boy Arborvitae

Franky Boy Arborvitae - Chartreuse Garden Texture

Meet the Franky Boy Arborvitae (Thuja orientalis 'Franky Boy')—a wild and wonderful twist on a classic evergreen! This upright teardrop-shaped conifer stands out with its feathery, threadlike foliage in eye-popping chartreuse-gold that shifts to copper-bronze in the winter months. Franky Boy is a dwarf cultivar that grows slowly and stays compact, making it ideal for small spaces! Its texture and color make it the star of any planting!

Franky Boy Chinese Arborvitae is naturally pyramidal in form, reaching about 4-6 feet tall and wide at maturity. The foliage is soft and flexible—almost like fine, windswept lacy fringe—and densely packed on upright to slightly spreading stems. New growth is a zingy lemon-lime shade that glows in the landscape! In fall and winter, the gold turns into warm, bronzy tones, extending its appeal year-round.

Key Features

• Dwarf, teardrop-shaped upright evergreen shrub with soft, threadlike foliage
• Bright chartreuse to gold coloring turns bronze in winter
• Slow-growing, maxes out around 4-6 feet tall and about 4 feet wide
• Adaptable to heat, drought, and poor soils
• A cultivar of Chinese Arborvitae (T. orientalis)
• Great for containers, rock gardens, or borders
• Low maintenance and deer resistant

Landscaping Uses

• Use as a bright space-saving focal point in small garden beds
• Tuck into mixed conifer borders for year-round texture
• Fantastic in containers or large pots
• Accent for Meditation Gardens, Japanese-style, Mediterranean, or Rock Gardens
• Great for color contrast against dark foliage or hardscaping
• Useful for erosion control on slopes or banks
• Perfect accents for balcony and apartment gardens!
• Pairs beautifully with darker greens or purples

Care and Maintenance

This is a Chinese Arborvitae, which means it hails from Platycladus orientalis, a species native to China and Korea and long revered in temple plantings and traditional gardens. This species is adapted to hotter, drier climates and can take poor soils in stride.

Franky Boy Chinese Arborvitae is hardy from Zones 5 to 8, withstanding urban smog, compacted soils, and drought once established. It's one tough cookie! This evergreen conifer is actually from the Cypress family. Franky Boy Chinese Arborvitae is heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and downright unfussy once settled.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade (best color in full sun)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; tolerates clay, rocky, sandy, and urban soils
• Moisture Needs: Low to moderate once established
• Arborist Mulch: A 3-4 inch deep layer of bark mulch or arborist chips is beneficial
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with balanced evergreen fertilizer
• Pruning Info: Rarely needed, but can be lightly shaped in early spring
• Renewal Pruning: Not necessary
• Special Perks/Growing Tips:
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant once established
• Tolerates pollution and compacted soil
• Handles coastal conditions and salty air

Read in-depth Arborvitae care information here.

Add Some Flair With Franky Boy

Fun and funky Franky Boy Chinese Arborvitae might sound like a jazz singer, but it performs more like a headliner in the landscape—compact, colorful, and wildly textured. It's the perfect plant to liven up small spots or give a dull bed a pop of golden pizzazz.

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship this fantastic variety right to you! How convenient!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deer eat my Franky Boy Arborvitae?
Highly unlikely—Franky Boy is considered deer resistant thanks to its aromatic foliage. In areas of high deer pressure, be ready with the deer repellent because no plant is deer-proof when they're desperate!

How fast does Franky Boy Arborvitae grow?
It grows slowly, only adding a few inches per year. Perfect for low-maintenance gardens.

Can I grow Franky Boy in a pot?
Absolutely—it thrives in containers and makes a fine potted specimen with year-round interest.

How does Chinese Arborvitae differ from Western/American Arborvitae?
Chinese Arborvitae is more drought- and heat-tolerant, better for southern or dry climates, and has a looser, more textured look.