Abies koreana 'Silberlocke ' (Horstmanns Silberlocke Korean Fir)


Michael's Opinion

An unusual plant that is a welcome addition to the class garden, care should be taken to select a worthy form of the plant that is strongly pyramidal as I have seen and grown some unkempt forms. Interesting texture and colour.

Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusAbies
Specieskoreana
Cultivar'Silberlocke '
SynonymsAbies koreana 'Horstman's Silberlocke'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginDiscovered in 1978 in Scheneverdingen, Germany by L. G. Horstman and thus why it is often seen labeled as Horstman's Silberlocke.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone4b
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-29 - (-23)
Temperature (°F)-20 - (-10)
Height3 m (after about 20 years)
Spread1 m
GrowthSlow

Description and Growing Information

ID CharacteristicStrongly recurved needles, showing their silvery-whitish undersides. A slow-growing cultivar with an annual growth rate of 10 - 15 cm year, reaching 2 m in about 15 years.
ShapeLoose, pyramidal form.
PropagationSelected clones are grafted, however, it has the unusual characteristic of a high proportion of seedlings coming true to form since it does not hybridize freely with other species and cultivars of Abies.
CultivationRequires well-drained slightly acidic to neutral soils. It may drop some needles in very cold situations and I have seen the one plant in the Cuddy Gardens drop almost all its needles but rebound to normal within a couple of growing seasons. A protected location from winter winds is strongly recommended. It is considered sensitive to urban pollution.
PestsNone of note.
Notable SpecimensThe A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Leaf Description1 - 2 cm long, recurved needles displaying the silvery white underside.
Fruit DescriptionAs pictured the cylindrical 5 cm cone is purple at maturity but pale green in infancy but often with an exudate of resin present. Cones are rare in infancy but common on mature specimens and as in most Abies species are held upright above the foliage.
Colour DescriptionDark green above the needles but silver below, however when viewed in the form it is a mixture of the two.
Texture DescriptionA medium to coarsely textured plant with a somewhat unkempt form.

Photographs