Botanical Name: Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana Compacta’
Common Names: Dwarf Golden Oriental Arborvitae, Aurea Nana Compact Arborvitae, Golden Biota, Dwarf Golden Chinese Arborvitae
📌 Product Description
Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana Compacta’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen conifer prized for its dense, fine-textured foliage and rich golden-yellow colouring. This dwarf selection forms a neat, rounded to slightly pyramidal shape, making it ideal for smaller gardens and formal planting schemes.
Its bright golden tones intensify in full sun and provide year-round colour contrast against darker green shrubs and lawns. With its naturally tidy growth habit and low maintenance requirements, it is well suited to South African gardens where structure and colour are desired without excessive pruning.
This cultivar is particularly effective in rockeries, borders, and feature container planting.
📏 Size When Fully Grown
Height: 60 cm – 1 m
Spread: 60 cm – 1 m
Growth Habit: Compact, rounded to slightly pyramidal evergreen
Growth Rate: Slow
🌱 Best Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun (best colour development) to light partial shade
Soil: Well-draining sandy or loamy soil
Water:
- Water regularly during establishment
- Moderately drought tolerant once established
- Avoid poorly drained or waterlogged soil
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring to maintain healthy, vibrant growth.
Maintenance:
- Minimal pruning required
- Light shaping can be done in spring if needed
- Protect young plants from severe frost
🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)
Best Planting Time: Spring or early autumn
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Climate Suitability: Suitable for most South African temperate and inland regions
Frost Tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate frost
Wind Tolerance: Moderate wind tolerance
🌼 Additional Benefits
- Compact size ideal for small spaces
- Bright golden year-round foliage
- Low maintenance
- Drought tolerant once established
- Excellent for formal or structured planting
🌿 Ideal Uses
✔ Rock gardens
✔ Border planting
✔ Feature container plant
✔ Low formal hedging
✔ Accent plant in small gardens
