Platycladus orientalis Franky Boy

Platycladus orientalis 'Franky Boy' is a very unique variety of Oriental arborvitae, with its fine linear foliage that stands erect, in a bright yellow-green colour, and its compact ball-shaped habit. This lovely evergreen conifer has a slow growth rate and small size. It can be integrated into various situations: in rock gardens, flower beds, or even in a large pot on the terrace. It is a hardy conifer that is not demanding in terms of soil type and tolerates pruning very well. It prefers a well-drained soil that is not too dry, and a sunny exposure.

Platycladus orientalis, also known as Biota orientalis or simply Chinese arborvitae, is sometimes called the Tree of Life due to its longevity and vigour. It is an evergreen conifer from the cypress family native to China, but also distributed from Iran to Japan. In its natural habitat, it reaches a height of 12 to 20 metres (39 feet 5 inches to 65 feet 7 inches), adopting a beautiful columnar to conical habit, well-branched, with spreading branches. It is a hardy species, well adapted to temperate climates and occasionally dry limestone soils. Its wood is used in Buddhist temples for construction, as well as burned as incense.

 The 'Franky Boy' variety, highly appreciated, stands out for its small size, very compact habit in a spherical to ovoid bush shape, and its foliage that changes colour to golden. Its growth rate is slow, so it will reach a maximum height of 1 metre with a similar spread at maturity. This conifer has thread-like foliage that is aromatic when crushed. The young shoots are golden in spring and become yellow-green in summer. The ovoid cones are formed by 3 or 4 pairs of scales with recurved tips. The bark on its trunk is reddish-brown and longitudinally fissured.

The 'Franky Boy' Oriental arborvitae finds its place in a small garden, in a rock garden, planted near an entrance... It can also be planted in a beautiful container on the terrace or balcony. It pairs well with large stones and the geometric lines of pools, houses, and masonry structures. It can be associated with grasses, which are very complementary, or even with the indestructible Microbiota decussata, which has a similar autumn colour. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of flowering. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally and durably shape a flower bed, mark pathways, and border the terrace, easily substituting for the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.