Probably was yellowish when younger and has now thrown most of that off. Maybe it was raised from seed and is not actually a vegetatively propagated named form reported in the literature. "Golden pygmy" sounds like a name made up for dispersing such plants. Or it could be a made up common name intended for selling stock that does actually have an established cultivar name already much used.

Aberrant conifers, even when long-grown named forms often try to throw off part of their abnormality as they age. Another thing that happens is grafting onto normal seedling rootstock causing the scions to behave differently than the original seedling or witches' broom upon which the cultivar was based. Certain large nurseries put out quantities of some varieties produced by grafting and not behaving in the manner of the plants described under the cultivar names used.

Looks like it has several inches of new growth. This rate of progress will probably be kept up for a long time.

I can't help with ID but just want to say how annoying that a nursery owner would say something as ignorant as "it won't get much bigger than it is now." It may or may not be slow-growing (you can obviously figure that out based on how much growth you've seen), but it will continue to grow, ergo to get bigger. Blast them, especially when they have plants you want to buy :-)

KarinL

Your plant strongly reminds me of Cham. obtusa Aurea Nana =Gold(en) Dwarf. It could be a multitude of cultivars. If this plant was under lath, plastic and any other structure not receiving full sun, I would put my money on something such as the cultivar I listed.

Size wise, I have a Cham. ob. Aurea Nana that is almost 7 feet. I had a big specimen in the garden centre that was pushing 9 feet earlier in the season. Ultimate height around 18-20 feet (6m plus). Mature at 12 feet (4m).

Darren

ultimate size.. is simply the growth rate times years ... plus starting height ....

take note of darrens suggested name .... find the AConiferSoc database.... check the growth rate ... multiply the annual growth rate by 10 years.. add the size today .. and you will know approximately .. how big it will be in 10 years ... etc ... most likely .. it will grow at that growth rate.. for the rest of your life ....

i see a dripper hose ... if you are growing it in that pot forever .... i do NOT know what impact that will have on it ... probably will slow it down.. as it chokes itself in the pot .... if you basically bonsai it... every other year.. unpot and root prune it to keep it in the same pot.. most likely you can severely retard the annual growth rate ...

ken

Thanks for the information! These plants are in pots because I purchased them very late in the spring and didnt want to risk planting them too late. I set up the drip irrigation to get me through the 100+ temps this summer and going on vacation. They'll be going in the ground this fall or next spring. I havnt researched the proper time to plant yet. As for the C. obtusa, it has a burlaped root ball. I sat it in the pot for looks. Also, it has been on the back patio only receiving some evening sun.

Haloperidol

I'm not yelling at you, but for the life of me, how has it gotten so ingrained in folks that because Spring is a good time of year to plant trees, that if that season is missed, somehow the plants will be happier remaining stuck in their pots? Seriously, I'm not picking on you at all, but using this thread to try to reinforce the notion that potted material is emminently suited to being planted any time the ground is workable. That is one of the few advantages to this form of nursery stock.

In other words, whatever stressors come into play as Spring turns to Summer, are in full effect on that poor potted tree too, to an even greater degree.

I'm certain I sound grumpy here but that is not my intent. Anybody who is wondering-plant those plants in the ground! It's better for them than remaining in their pots. As with any general pronouncment, there will be exceptions. One could, for example, purchase a plant knowing they will want it in their landscape eventually, but not having the spot for it yet, etc........

+oM

i agree with tom ...

but it is all about the MINIMIZATION of risk ...

in suburbia ... on a 100 x 100 lot... i could touch/feel/water every plant.. every night... and all was good in hooterville ...

on 5 acres .. pure sand... blistering sun ... plant something.. remember for a few days.. then all of a sudden ... 5 weeks later.. see this dead, nude stick ... and exclaim .. drat [well maybe something a bit more flavorful].. i forgot to follow up ...

if you can apply appropriate TLC.. without killing it [too much love].. potted stock .... or even ball and burlap dug in spring ... you should be just fine... planting it whenever ....

but i wouldnt go bare rooting or digging stock in .. say .. august ... i would wait ... unless you are buying from someone who will give you a warrantee ...

the key .. is minimize your risk .. and there is just as much risk .. leaving them in pots too long ... mother earth has a way of tempering many of the variables we struggle with ....

ken

BTW: cham obt was probably found in hinoki ... the addition of hinoki adds nothing to the name... or should i say.. its a common name.. rather than proper nomenclature ....