Thuja? I hardly knew ya! November’s Native of the Month: Thuja Occidentalis ‘Bobozam’

The native of the month for November (and our last native plant feature of 2024) is a cultivar of Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis pronounced (THOO-yah ock-sih- den-TAY-liss) called ‘Bobozam’, also known by the common name Mr. Bowling Ball. Common names for this plant include American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae and white cedar. While this perennial is an arborvitae, the name white cedar is not correct since this species is not a true cedar of the Cedrus genus. This perennial is usually found in wet areas such as swamps and along shorelines. T. occidentalis are an evergreen that are in the cupressaceae family. This cultivar of arborvitae are dwarves and tend to maintain their round shape naturally; since they have been placed in the Children’s Garden at Wellfield Botanic Gardens, they have received little to no attention due to their innate shape. The mature plant size reaches up to 3 feet tall and wide. Mr. Bowling Ball does well in full sun to part shade and prefers well drained soil. This variety of Arborvitae does well in zones 3-8 and is rather low maintenance. 

Pictured above is the lacy blue-green foliage of Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobozam’ featured in the Children’s Garden at Wellfield Botanic Gardens

T. occidentalis ‘Bobozam’ is an evergreen, meaning it has year round interest. The foliage consists of a blue-green color that is rather attractive and can provide great contrast with other foliage in a garden. T. occidentalis can provide shelter for smaller wildlife including rabbits. Mr. Bowling Ball can be susceptible to deer in areas of high population. At Wellfield, we have not had any pest problems with this variety, however, it is said to be cautious of leaf blight and leaf miner. 

Thuja occidentalis is native to our area of NW Indiana/SW Michigan and the greater northeastern region of the United States. This dwarf cultivar of the native evergreen has year-round interest due to its attractive blue-green foliage and natural habit. Here at Wellfield Botanic Gardens, we hope to showcase the importance of native species (and cultivars) on the ecosystem with the series of the Native plant of the Month. This perennial would be a great addition to your own yard due to its versatility and low maintenance requirements. This concludes our Native of the Month series for 2024; our native plant of the month series will resume in 2025. In the meantime, visit the Gardens and see if you can find Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobozam’! We're open Tuesday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Ariana Guerrero

Horticulturist