Picea abies 'Little Gem'? It's not golden. Did you mean something else?

The replacement miniature conifer should be golden :-)

P. orientalis 'Tom Thumb Gold' is tiny and bright yellow. It can be a bit tough to grow, though. I've killed several. I also don't know about the cold hardiness for you.

I’m having good luck with these 3 Chamaecyparis pisifera ”Golden Pin Cushion”. First pic is a close up of the middle one in row of 3 - it’s the largest one, 2nd pic shows all 3. They were planted 7/2019. I also have 2 Little Gems around in border on the other side of this lawn & they are both doing well in same conditions. These Golden PC’s get quite yellow in summer - this yard faces West. I have trimmed the new growth of the largest one of these because it’s growing too enthusiastically & you can see it has a smallish space between the lawn & stone path. That’s a problem here in PNW - all the rain & mild winters makes many plants grow as though on steroids.

" I also don't know about the cold hardiness for you. "

That is also something I would be concerned about. I'd lean heavily to the Chamaecyparis as well. Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball' is my favorite tiny little gold gem but neither C. obutsa or pisifera are rated below USDA zone 5.

I'm just not familiar enough with any gold minis hardy for your zone.

I have 2 Butterballs also. One in large pot & one in ground - both doing well. Can’t help myself - I love the minis. I wonder if your snow offers any freeze protection?

Well, the Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis' (not gold) is marginally hardy where I am.

Several years ago, I planted one on a 2' standard, the scion had no consistent snow cover, and it did not survive the winter.

Last year, I planted one on a 6" standard at the exact same location, the scion had consistent snow cover, and it survived the colder than average winter.

That may serve as a measuring stick for my plant hardiness zone. I myself consider it zone pushing by half a zone.

I can't speak to the clone in question, but in general C. pisifera is more cold hardy than obtusa. I'm not saying all pisifera are cold hardy to z4, but many are. BTW, I have not seen any C. obtusa or P. orientalis growing long-term in this region of z4.

I saw a Platycladus orientalis 'Morgan' in a local nursery, I like the looks of it. The ACS considers it a zone 5 but is there anyone here growing it in zone 4?

Edit: @maackia I assumed without much thinking that with P. orientalis you meant Picea orientalis, that's why I asked about the Platycladus, sorry if I am wrong.

Ontario, your assumption was correct.

I bought the Platycladus orientalis 'Morgan' , it will be another zone pusher by half a zone in my USDA zone 4b, wish me luck :-)