Thuja Occidentalis- Arborvitae Annas Magic Ball #2

Do you love the look of those perfectly manicured, round boxwoods at the Biltmore, but hate the idea of spending your weekends with a pair of hedge clippers trying to keep them symmetrical? Or do you just have a small "dead spot" in a garden bed that needs evergreen color?

'Anna's Magic Ball' is adorable, frankly. It’s a dwarf arborvitae that naturally grows into a tight, perfect sphere without you ever having to lift a finger. It’s like having a little blob of sunshine stuck in your garden. While most arborvitaes are giant green giants that block out the neighbors, 'Anna' is a small accent that stays under two feet tall. It’s the ultimate "lazy gardener" plant because it keeps its shape and its bright yellow color all by itself.

Because this is a native cultivar (its ancestors are the American Arborvitaes you see all over the NC mountains), it’s much tougher than it looks. In our King and Winston-Salem clay, the trick is drainage. It loves moisture but hates swimming, so if you’re planting it in our heavy red clay, be sure to amend the soil and plant it slightly raised. It handles our winters like a champ, and unlike some evergreens that turn a muddy brown in January, 'Anna' keeps glowing gold through the frost.

Why We Recommend It:

• Put Away the Shears: We aren't kidding -- you do not prune this plant. It grows into a dense ball naturally. If you try to shape it, you’ll probably just ruin it. Just plant it and let it do its thing.

• Eternal Sunshine: In the drab greys of a Piedmont winter, this plant holds a bright golden-yellow hue year-round. It’s perfect for flanking a front door or brightening up a rock garden.

• Small Space Problem Solver: Most "dwarf" plants eventually get huge. This one stays genuinely petite (about 15 inches tall and wide). It fits in containers, narrow flower beds, or that awkward strip between the sidewalk and the porch.

Best Used For:

• Rock gardens (it pops against grey stone).

• Container planters (great "thriller" that lasts all year).

• Border edging along a path.

• Foundation plantings where you don't want to block a window.

The Specs:

• Growth Rate: Slow.

• Mature Size: Tiny! 10–15 inches tall and wide.

• Sun: Full Sun (best gold color) to Part Shade.

• Soil: Likes moist, well-drained soil. Mulch it well to keep roots cool.

Ready for some magic? Learn more about Thuja varieties at the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, or come visit us at Mitchell's. We have these in stock, and they are impossible to miss!