Franky Boy Chinese Arborvitae Plant

Airy lemon-yellow foliage with year-round color

Fine filaments of lemon-yellow foliage extend from a lime-green interior, moving with the slightest breeze to create an airy texture and striking contrast. This distinctive evergreen offers the graceful effect of ornamental grasses without winter die-back, helping create a garden with 12 Months of Color.®

Plant it in full sun for the brightest color, whether as a specimen, low hedge, or colorful accent among darker evergreens. Light shearing encourages a formal, compact shape and a fresh flush of vivid foliage. Its exceptional qualities earned it recognition as the 2018 Collector’s Conifer of the Year.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant or repot within 4 weeks of arrival. Choose a full-sun location with well-drained soil. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper, keeping the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil. Backfill, water thoroughly, and apply mulch without piling it against the stem.

2. Watering: Water deeply after planting and regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry, especially during prolonged heat or drought. Avoid consistently soggy soil.

3. Pruning: Lightly shear in late winter or early spring to maintain a compact, formal shape and encourage colorful new foliage. Trim conservatively, avoiding cuts into old, bare wood where regrowth may be limited.

4. Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreens in early spring, following label directions. Avoid overfertilizing or feeding late in the season, which can encourage tender growth before winter.