Maybe this can give you some idea.

Hit the link...this was mine in 2006.

This is the same plant today....Grows about a foot a year once settled in and established.

I plan on combining the two beds in a couple of years to accommodate this beautiful conifer.

Dave
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http://www.coniferbase.com/conifer_db/photo_lib/displaypicture.php?id=2041

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Here is a link that might be useful: Picea o. 'Aureospicata'

you would probably be better off looking into p. o. skylands or tom thumb ... which for me.. is much slower .... if not terminal .. lol ...

but listen .. to the typed word .... buy something that makes your toes tingle for 10 years.. and then.. if it is getting too big.. cut it down ...

i would much rather recommend toe tingling.. rather than settling for some ugly thing that will 'fit the space' ...

what is it about the named plant that attracts you to it???

if it is just a bigboxstore option.. look into mail order for toe tinglin' stuff ...

there is an annual growth rate for all plants... ALL size estimates are at 10 years .... AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT THE ANNUAL RATE..after 10 years ... basically for the rest of your life ... double at 20.. etc ...

so even at the link.. double the size for 20 years ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: look for skylands .....

"Skylands" has it's own set of issues as you know Ken. Not for everyone unless they have the time to baby sit it till it acclimates.

As expensive as 'Aureospicata' is, by the way not big box material, tossing it in ten years is not an option in my opinion.

Look into some of the weeping/pendulous cultivars. There are plenty of well versed individuals in this forum that will have a name to offer.

I could post a few but I do to much posting of photos as it is.

Dave

P.o. Aureo is a wonderful conifer, ours has been growing along about 3-4" a year for about 4 years, till THIS YEAR, wow! Its down back so can get big as it likes.

We also have 3 Skylands that haven't been a bit of trouble, they do not get sun from about noon till around 3 PM. Two just pooped up about 12" of leader and 7" side growth. They must like it here:-)

I fell in love with Aurea spicata after seeing it at a private japanese garden. I love P. orientalis for the grace of its form and the dark green color, but seeing this one with the bright yellow new growth was spectacular. I have Abies concolor compacta in the same bed and thought the color contrast would be good. I like Skylands but this bed gets full sun until close to 3PM and I've seen Skylands look just awful when it's burnt. I think I may just have to give up on Aurea spicata because I don't want to plan to cut it down.

Thanks for the advice. Any ideas on a more columnar form that would have the same contrast of dark green with yelliow new growth? Does Pinus 'Taylor's Sunburst' either grow slower or more upright so that it would fit in a ten foot space?

OOPPS.... my bad ... nice catch dave ...

i have winter issues with skylands in z5..

FORGET I MENTIONED IT ...

minis grow under one inch per year ...

dwarfs ... oh hit the link ... find the conifer intro in the left panel ... discussing growth rates .. i will try to link directly ...

also use the database ... when you find a name.. and want info on it ... you need the latin .... here is what it says on the title plant:

Large: > 12" (30cm) per yr, > 15' (4.5m) at 10 yrs.

and look at all the pics and stuff at the site .... your mission.. should you accept it.. is to find what you need .... in a dwarf or mini growth rate ...

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: did it work?

Pinus contorta 'Taylors' Sunburst' is a very slow growing, relatively narrow pine. Mine puts on about 4-5" of new growth a year and it's well established. From mature specimens I've seen(or at least 15-20 year trees), are less then 10' wide for sure.

That will be an extremely large/wide tree.
Firefighter suggests 'Taylor's Sunburst' however it's going to be as wide as P.o. 'Aureospicata'. Nice tree though.

You might check Porterhowse Nursery for Chamaecyparis nootkatenis 'Sparkling Arrow' as it will probably be available later this year. That meets your dimensions.

Some other possibilities:
Picea omorika 'Gotelli Weeping' (Coenosium Gardens)
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Jubilee' (Girard's Nursery)
Abies alba 'Green Spiral' (Girard's)
Abies concolor 'Conica'
Abies veitchii 'Pendula'
Cedrus deodara 'Eisregen' (Greer Gardens)
Pinus cembra 'Aurea' (Coenosium Gardens)
Pinus mugo 'Fastigiata Aurea'/'Aurea Fastigiata'
Pinus parviflora 'Gimborn's Ideal'
Pinus resinosa 'Fastigiata'
Thuja plicata 'Collyer's Gold'
Tsuga mertensiana 'Blue Star'
Pinus parviflora 'Tone'
Thuja occidentalis 'Wansdyke's Silver'
Picea engelmannii 'Lace'/'Bush's Lace'

Dax

I have one Picea orientalis aureospicata, is now 5 ft tall and 5 ft wide. I read it will become 15 ft tall, but I hope not wider than 7 ft. Mine is about 10 years old, but really took off only this year. It was offered as a companion to heathers, and I planted it that way with other conifers, though right now it is hiding behind tall blue columbines. Its site has mainly morning sun.

I agree it was beautiful this spring to see first what looked like little red cones on the branches with short dark green needles, followed by yellow new growth.

Bernd