It will want to have light. Should not be anymore prone to drying out than the maples - unless in a very sandy or coarse mix. Will definitely want to be kept moist - as do the maples.

'Aurea' is an old name not having any specific application now, probably you have Aureus Nanus or another yellow form. Seeds taken from yellow forms of this species may give numbers of yellow seedlings.

The new name for Thuja orientalis is Platycladus orientalis.
The cultivar name 'Aurea' is used for all clones with a golden yellow foliage.

Probably you have the cultivar 'Elegantissima' or 'Pyramidalis Aurea'.

The cultivar name 'Aureus Nanus' is a mistake and must be 'Aurea Nana'.

>The cultivar name 'Aurea' is used for all clones with a golden yellow foliagef. aurea has been used for that. It is a botanical designation embracing all yellow versions of the species.

"As presently used, aurea is a group name to indicate any seedling or cultivar with foliage more or less golden, even if only in spring. The name dates from --A.L. Jacobson, North American Landscape Trees (1996, Ten Speed, Berkeley)

>Probably you have the cultivar 'Elegantissima' or 'Pyramidalis Aurea'Not over here. The common plant - long a staple of general outlets - is 'Aurea Nana'. Multiple clones are grown, hence Aureus Nanus Group. One or more British sources was using that version for awhile, the current Plant Finder Online has it as 'Aurea Nana'.