There are a number of yellowish Chamaecyparis obtusa and lawsoniana. If you look those up on google with the words "yellow" or "gold" or "aurea", you will find many different varieties.

I searched google and I can't find anything that resembles this tree. Here's a bit more of the tree if it will help.

Did you ask at the nursery where you photographed the conifer ?

Not yet but I will.

Look at chamaecyparis pisifera filifera aurea and see if that's closer.

Growth habit and foliage form not right for threadleaf cypress. Or for the other Chamaecyparis suggestions. Embo's suggestion for a cypress or possibly a juniper much more likely.

I thought of a form of Cryptomeria. That would probably not be hardy in NY though.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Sunkist’ ?

Thuja plicata 'Stoneham Gold' ?

Update: I found out from the nursery that it was a Cupressus leylandii 'Gold Rider'. I was also told that this tree may not do well in my area. Thoughts?

yeah.. i have a thought.. why is a local nursery carrying plants that wont do well in your area ...

whats that all about ... lol

ken

Ken, you and I are not far from each other geographically, and one of my pet peeves are perennial tags in plants that are PERENNIAL NOT HERE!!! In lower s'east Mi.! Yet unsuspecting people don't read the ENTIRE tag, buy it and plant it and lose it. But the greenhouse/store/nursery made their money.

So to answer your question (and I know it was rhetorical) "what's that all about?" One word. MONEY. Rosie

Leyland cypress do perfectly well on Long Island as it has a somewhat modified Mediterranean climate. This tree does not fair as well in areas with high summer humidity but is a very popular privacy screening tree in your area. Many local area nurseries recommend them and sell them.

'Gold Rider' is a yellow leaved form that stays significantly smaller than other cultivars.

Most reputable independent nurseries and garden centers do not sell plants that are not sufficiently hardy for that area or that do not do well in that area as their success depends on return business and word of mouth recommendations. So yes, money is an overriding factor but not in the way you mean :-)) The places that DO sell not suitable or non-hardy for the location plants tend to be the box stores and mass merchandisers (like Walmart) where plants are really loss leaders and not their bread and butter.

I will stand very slightly amended,,,,we have Walmart, Lowe's, Meijer, a popup greenhouse that is erected every year in a parking lot, and another greenhouse that is stick & brick. Not to mention the small stores that want their share of the action. Not blaming anyone, I get it. BUT I have found plants that are marked perennial that are NOT perennial in this area in every one of them. The least offender is the stick & brick greenhouse followed by the put up in a parking lot greenhouse. But they still sell a certain amount of them. The BBS are the worst. Do I shop them all? Certainly do. I know what is what and if unsure will google it before I buy it.

I do think most people tend to be complacent about the plants. If there is a 1 year guarantee that will sweeten the pot if they don't lose the reciept.

So it does exist in my world quite a bit between all the above mentioned stores. Even I have to be vigilant! Rosie

Independent garden centers here are peppered with tender plants that are often displayed near or among the hardy stock, particularly at this time of the year when all these brugmansias, Chinese hibiscus, citrus, mandevillas, tender succulents etc. are flowering. Or in season merely because this is the time of the year when these are able to grow and live outside. Anyone who doesn't read the hardiness depictions on the labels or get told by a worker that they are not locally adapted may take them home thinking they will survive northern winters.

Another thing that seems to be happening is a component of consumers planting exotics like these outside here anyway knowing full well they very often will not make it to spring. As though they were buying comparatively inexpensive summer annuals.