Put it next to the root ball. It will also have to be stout and tall enough to enable continued training of the leader for as high up as you want it to go.

'Aurea Pendula' doesn't seem to be here (notice the trinomial drop down menu on the right):

https://conifersociety.org/conifers/picea-orientalis/

Embothrium, thank you. I notice, wherever I look, Aurea Pendula does not seem to be a legit botanical name. I was not aware that garden centers could just name trees themselves and make official looking labels for their stock. Oh well....I gave it a lot of room, full sun, well draining soil. We'll see how it does.

It would actually be a cultivar name of course, with the botanical part being Picea orientalis. But new Latin cultivar names also aren't supposed to have been coined after 1959. With non-Latin ones being used instead.

could it be 'Skylands ?

Looks too chartreusy to be 'Skylands'. It my not need staking. All of the weeping P. orientalis that I know just have weeping laterals; the leader is upright.

Hi Wendy, I live in NY state, but I bought it at a Nursery in MA when I was visiting my son. It has done well so far in my zone 5 garden, overwintered well and is putting on some growth. If you can find one it's a beauty!

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure you would see this. Do you remember the nursery/garden center, or, if not, the town where you got this? I'm taking a trip to Maine in one month, sooo... Btw, I don't think this will need staking at all. Picea orientalis always have stout main leaders. The laterals can weep nicely as the tree matures on some varieties, such as P. o. aurea, which I used to have before I moved, and can no longer find, but not as much on the more commonly available varieties such as Skylands and aureaspicata. That's what makes this one so elegant. I think you are really going to treasure this one.

I don't remember the name of the nursery, but I will ask my daughter in law...she brought me there. I'm hoping it grows well for me, I love everything about it!

I just purchased the same tree at Peckham’s Nursery in RI. Hope this helps anyone who’s looking. They had good selection remaining. If you take the drive, check out the conic gardens while you’re there.

Thank you Liza! I'm already planning the trip. Nine hours round trip but will be worth it!

A gorgeous tree btw.