Abies koreana 'Aurea' (Golden Korean Fir)


Michael's Opinion

The Golden Korean Fir is a beautiful plant offering a beautiful golden colour in the spring. After the golden colour on the needles fades, it shows its stunning deep purple cones. This tree is used in many gardens to accent other plants and provide colour diversity. It is soft to the touch and will hold its needles longer than a spruce or pine. This tree may not be the most ideal to plant in certain locations due to its irregular and unpredictable growth pattern while it is young. Over time it will develop into a medium sized pyramidal tree.

Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusAbies
Specieskoreana
Cultivar'Aurea'
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
Specimen plant.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5 - 8
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone4a - 8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7 - H4
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-29 - (-7)
Temperature (°F)-20 - 20
Height3 - 6 m
Spread2 - 4 m
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA coniferous, medium-sized tree with lemon yellow needles in the spring that gradually fades as the season progresses. It has deep purple coloured cones. This cultivar has an irregular form while young but over time will develop into a medium sized pyramidal tree.
ID CharacteristicIt has short, golden needles with white undersides in the spring that gradually fades during the summer. With its smooth, grey bark, short golden needles in the spring and deep purple cones that face upwards, makes it an easy plant to identify.
ShapeIn its youth, it has an irregular form however once it matures, it will take the shape of a medium sized pyramidal tree.
LandscapeA multi-seasonal specimen plant, used for hedges, windbreak and bonsai.
PestsCan become infected by diplodia blight. The fungus starts at the tip of the branches and eventually spreads throughout the entire tree. Is also susceptible to phomopsis blight.
Notable SpecimensThe Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario. Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark is very smooth to the touch. It has a grey colour once developed, with green or brown present on the new growth.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionSmall, glabrous buds that are a brownish-red in colour. Scaled, and covered in white resin, they are approximately 6 - 8 mm long and 4 - 5 mm wide.
Leaf DescriptionNeedle-like, densely and radially arranged on the stem. Flat, thin and soft to the touch with a white underside. A bright lemon-yellow colour on new growth which fades to a more greenish-yellow colour as they mature.
Fruit DescriptionIt has deep purple cones, turning beige at maturity. It is easily recognizable for the vibrant purple colour.
Colour DescriptionIt is known for having a vibrant lemon-yellow colour in the spring, as the season progresses the colour fades into a more greenish-yellow. The underside of the needles is a whitish-grey. The cones are what makes this such a wonderful specimen tree to have in a garden as they get a vibrant deep purple colour. The bark is a grey coloured.
Texture DescriptionMedium.

Photographs