Golden clones situated for a long enough time in sun should be gold regardless of size. It is true Sawara cypress is apparently quite plastic so you will see variation within the same cultivar, with position on stock plant having some effect on growth of propagules. Hence 'Filifera Aurea' and 'Filifera Aurea Nana'. But an unshaded 'Filifera Aurea' ('Filifera Aurea Nana') in a one gallon pot should be quite metallic yellow. 'Golden Mop' is less apt to burn in hot sun but less yellow. You see similar combinations with other kinds of trees and shrubs, for instance yellow forms of boxelder and elderberry - there is a more yellow but sun susceptible golden form and a burn resistant but less yellow cultivar of each grown.

bboy gave you the answer ...

but if you want to be further enabled as to CONIFERS.... you might want to visit the CONIFER forum ... there are sooo many options.. outside of the general offerings of local stores .. especially bigboxstores ....

the key is full sun ... for full color.. subject to your location .... of which some peeps in the CONIFER forum might be more attuned ... to GA or more southerly areas ...

what i think bboy was trying to say ... with all those fancy highfalutin words ...is you dont really know how or where potted stock was grown.. so its color might be off ....

and do note that some conifers have winter yellow color.. and then green for summer.. but that should not be the issue with the CONIFERS you are talking about ...

ken

ps: did you notice the key word in CAPS... lol ..

Thanks both to bboy and Ken. Ken, your CAPS of CONIFER confuse me, LOL!!!!

Ken is just suggesting STRONGLY you visit the conifer forum. In fact, as I understand computer manners, he is YELLING his suggestion. What you cannot see is the smile on his face.