'Gold Dust' for me, because it will keep it's special colour all year long and doesn't need that much space as the 'Perry's Gold' will need at a later age...

See it for yourself:

Picea abies 'Gold Dust' 30 year old specimen at Don Howse)
It's 5 metres tall and 1 metre wide.

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Picea abies 'Perry's Gold'
This pictures as taken by our forum friend Dave Stegmeier, in his own garden and is about 14 years old.
It's about 1,5 metres high as wide, and will be getting wider as is ages.
Please, Dave, correct me if I'm wrong...
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If you go after 'Gold Dust' I have a feeling that this one being sold is 'Gold Dust' and not 'Variegated'.

If its the latter, then $25 for a 4-5 yr old plant is a steal.

I got one and compared it to my 2 year old 'Gold Dust' and they look identical.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Gold Dust'

Coniferjoy is right. Comparison is apples to oranges. That being said you did not say to choose just one or the other so may I choose both? FYI Perry's Gold is a very good performer in this zone (5).

Oh my...I love Gold Dust. Much MUCH nicer than Perry's Gold. Great photos Edwin.

How large is gold dust going to get? I have seen 9'x4', 16"x12", 4'x2' in 10 years. That is quite a bit different sizes. Anyone of you that has it have any idea?

In 10 years, 4x2ft. wouldn't be out of the question. Don Howse of Porterhowse Farms fame has one that's 9x4ft., but it's got to be around 30 years old.

My 10-year old specimen is about 2.5x1ft. Here's a picture from last spring.

This post was edited by Glaciers-End on Wed, Mar 13, 13 at 21:53

Strange Dave. My specimen is about 6-7 years old and can't be even half your size... I bought it as a 2-3 year old and that was in 2008-2009 Winter. You sure that huge plant is only 7??? How old was it when you put it in the ground?

-Will

Hi Will,

It was pretty much the same age as most of the stuff I plant, a 2-3 year old graft. Pretty sure I got it from Bob. I just checked the records. I developed that particular planting late in 2004, so I planted it in 2005. I suppose a lost track of time, here. That tree must actually be ~10.

~Dave