Franky Boy Arborvitae

Thuja orientalis 'Franky Boy'

$129⁹⁹

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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

Franky Boy Arborvitae highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Thuja orientalis 'Franky Boy'
Growing Zones

5 - 8
Mature Height

4 - 6 Feet
Mature Spread

3 - 4 Feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moisture

Medium
Soil

Well Drained Soil
Growth Rate

Slow
Fall Color

Evergreen
Pruning Time

Early Spring

Growing Zones

Find Your Growing Zone!

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.

>>Jump to Planting & Care Instructions

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.