James H. Schutte
Family
Pinaceae
Botanical Name
ABIES koreana
Plant Common Name
Korean Fir
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
A smaller-sized fir, Korean fir has glossy dark green needles with silvery undersides and blue-violet tinted green cones. A slow growing conifer from the southern half of the Korean peninsula, this is considered one of the more heat-tolerant fir species. It is best in cooler regions, however.
The horizontal branches of this fir tree grow slowly, and are light brown at their tips. The tree becomes a broad pyramid in shape with considerable age. The needles are soft and dark gray-green with a silvery underside. In late spring the male and female cones are light green-pink in color; only the female cones become plump ovals that blush purple to blue-violet before drying to golden brown.
Grow Korean fir in full to partial sun in a moist, well-draining soil that is not alkaline. It is tolerant of summer heat and windy situations but will die in soggy soils. It truly looks its best when grown in regions that have cool summers and cold winters. It is a lovely specimen evergreen for a large building foundation bed to soften the corner or in a lawn or expansive mixed shrub border. Selection 'Silberlocke' holds its needles more upright to expose the silvery undersides.
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Pyramidal
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
