Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis MR. BOWLING BALL 'Bobozam'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae - #2 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateSlow
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Fall Color
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Pruning Time
Growing Zones 3-8
Everyone loves the formality of round, evergreen spheres! But why spend time clipping and shaping, when you can plant something that grows into a perfect sphere all by itself without help?
Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Bobazam') is a dwarf, rounded cultivar of the species. Also known as White Cedars, these pretty shrubs are native to the upper northeast United States.
This hardy plant has all the wonderful characteristics of an Arborvitae, but it grows in a unique, compact, perfectly globe-shaped form. It requires little shearing and needs rare pruning to remain neat and tidy! It's an outstanding selection where space is limited.
Mr. Bowling Ball®'s lacy, fine-textured foliage is soft to the touch. It fills in all the way to the ground and retains its rich, green color year-round.
It has no significant disease or insect problems. Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae is long-lived and a great investment for USDA planting zones 3-8 landscapes.
Landscape Application:
Many people like to use this plant in their foundation plantings. But their small size and low-maintenance nature make them a wonderful addition just about anywhere!
We recommend using an odd number of plants for the best visual results. Curved lines will look more natural than stick-straight rows.
Create an excellent low hedge with multiple plants. Space them two feet apart on center. You'll measure from the center of one to the center of the next. Try them as a mass planting in areas that periodically stay damp. Use a staggered, zig-zagging planting pattern, two feet on center. Mulch between plants and keep newly installed mass plantings weeded until they grow together and touch.
They'll make a wonderful ribbon of steady green color to define garden areas. Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae add a formal touch but have a fine texture that looks soft and pleasing.
Have fun with Mr. Bowling Ball®! Why not create geometric patterns for a living maze, labyrinth or game board? Kids would love to run all around them. Let their creativity run wild as they burn off some energy.
Add to a special collection in rock gardens, or as part of a privacy planting. It looks terrific planted at the base of everything from taller American Arborvitae to flowering shrubs.
Use Mr. Bowling Ball® as an easy-care "Thriller" in exterior containers. Place one on either side of your front door to elevate them and increase their impact.
March a series of ultra-modern containers along the length of your pool deck for a very high-end look. Run drip irrigation to keep the containers watered, and get your weekends back!
- True Dwarf Evergreen
- Lacy, Blue-Green Foliage
- Compact, Unique Shape Grows Into A Perfect Sphere
- Holds Color Well In Winter
- Fantastic Space-Saving Conifers
- Great in Containers, Facer Plants, Edging & Border Plants
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Plant Mr. Bowling Ball® in full sun in cooler growing zones. While it's a rugged plant, it would appreciate some afternoon shade in hotter summer areas of Zone 6 and 8. It loves rich, moist, well-drained soils, however, it will adapt to most soil types, including clay or alkaline. It can even tolerate soil that periodically remains wet.
Give it a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. Add a thick layer of mulch to maintain even moisture and cool the root system in the heat of summer. Mulch is beneficial for many reasons. It breaks down to add nutrients for healthier plants and pulls the visual look of the landscape together.
Mr. Bowling Ball® remains evergreen year-round. However, older interior foliage may be shed as part of a normal renewal cycle in the fall. Overall, your plants will always be a vibrant, mid-toned green. Apply a fertilizer formulated for evergreens in early spring according to the directions. Top-dress with compost every other year to improve your soil quality over time.
Mr. Bowling Ball® Arborvitae is a dwarf conifer that is adaptable to a variety of soils and conditions, including urban pollution and salt.
- Hardy In Full Sun But Prefers Part Shade In Hotter Climates
- Well-Drained Soil - Tolerates Salt/Saline
- Moderate Moisture - Tolerates Wet Areas
- Rarely Needs Pruning But Can Be In Spring
- Salt & Urban Pollution Tolerant
Don't be surprised if you fall in love with these cute, little evergreen shrubs. Order the low-maintenance, charming Mr. Bowling Ball® Dwarf Arborvitae for your landscape this year!
