A cool weather evergreen tree, this native of South Korea is ideal for a small garden. It grows in temperate forests with high rain and snow fall and high humidity in summer. Its glossy dark green needles are 1-1½ inch long and have two silver-white lines on the underside. Insignificant deep red male strobili and purple to pink female strobili are borne on the same tree and are followed by purple-blue cones up 2-3.5 inches long. The cones are upright, cylindrical and have clear resin wax-like drippings down the sides. They turn rich dark brown as they mature and disintegrate. Trees need protection from strong winds and air pollution.
Type: Evergreen tree
Outstanding Feature: A mass of purple-blue cones in winter
Form: Conical to pyramidal
Growth Rate: Slow
Bloom: Dark red male strobili and purpose or pink female stobili are produced on the same tree. Purple or deep blue cones are produced in winter.
Size: 15-33’ H x 6-20’ H
Light: Full sun; tolerates some shade
Soil: Deep, fertile, consistently moist, well-drained, acidic or neutral
Hardiness: Zones 5-7
Care: Korean fir does not need much pruning except to shape or remove dead or diseased branches.
Pests and Diseases: Trees are generally free of problems but can be susceptible to Root rots, needle rust, twig blight, aphids, bagworms, balsam wooly adelgids, bark beetles, scales, spider mites, and spruce budworms.
Propagation: Seed, stratified at least one month
Outstanding Selection: ‘Silberlocke’ (needles twit upwards so that the silver undersides show).
Karen Meyers