Description
Abies koreana – Korean Fir
Brief description: The Korean fir is the most popular ornamental conifer for home gardens – and for good reason: even young plants bear abundant upright, violet-blue cones that stand out impressively against the dark green needles. Its compact, slow growth makes it the ideal fir for smaller gardens, rock gardens, and as a specimen plant in perennial beds. Both grafts of proven varieties and seedling plants with natural growth variance are available on the market.
- Sunny to partial shade
- Heart root system
- Suitable as a Christmas tree
- Slow-growing
- Upright cones as ornamental value
- Easy-care, robust, hardy
Climatic properties & site conditions: The Korean fir is hardy down to –25 °C and suitable for all altitudes in Southern Germany. It prefers fresh, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils and does not tolerate waterlogging. In contrast to large fir species, it is also suitable for smaller gardens. On very dry, lime-rich soils, it shows growth weaknesses and yellowing of the needles. In the Rhine Valley and other warm locations, it suffers more severely from spider mites.
Advantages: Spectacular violet-blue cones even in youth, compact growth for smaller gardens, hardy, attractive all year round, easy-care.
Disadvantages: Slow growth, no lime soils or waterlogging, susceptible to spider mites in warm locations, more expensive than standard conifers, not suitable for dry sites.
