Fir abies koreana, description, photos and characteristics, varieties, advice on agricultural technology

Korean fir differs from other representatives of the breed in its slow growth and the color of its needles. The appearance and characteristics of plants depend on the variety. The dwarf shrub of Korean fir of the Blue Emperor variety is used to create alpine slides and decorate a personal plot with an unusual coniferous perennial.

Fir abies koreana, description of what the needles and fruits look like

Abies Koreana or Korean fir belongs to the conifer family. However, this species, unlike others, has a number of features.

Plant characteristics:

• The height of the tree reaches more than four meters.
• The crown shape is conical.
• The needles are short (its length is one or two centimeters), soft, dark green in color, with a slight shine. On the inside of the needles there are two light green stripes.
• The fruits are in the form of cylindrical purple cones. Their length ranges from five to seven centimeters, and their diameter is two and a half centimeters. The fruits ripen throughout the whole year, and at the end of autumn the cones open and seeds appear.
• The tree prefers a sunny area and is resistant to wind and cold.

Lives about one hundred and fifty years.

Let's watch an interesting video about the fir plant:

Full description of Korean fir

Korean fir is an amazingly beautiful tree. Many plant varieties have their own characteristics (color and size of needles, crown shape), but are characterized by common features:

• powerful, well-deep root system;
• spreading, cone-shaped crown;
• the bark is smooth, light gray, with thick brown-red cracks as the tree grows;
• shoots are yellowish, turning purple as they grow;
• apical buds are resinous, round;
• cylindrical cones;
• cones length up to 7 cm;
• diameter of cones up to 3 cm;
• the color of the cones is green, violet, purple as they ripen;
• lush, thick needles;
• the color of the needles ranges from silver, blue to rich, dark green;
• the needles are curved, flat, non-thorny, soft to the touch;
• needle length up to 15 mm;
• needle width up to 2.5 mm.

Cones are formed at the top of the tree crown, starting from 8-10 years of age, growing vertically upward. After ripening, they open and the seeds are released. A characteristic feature is the unique shade of the needles, which are colored on the lower part with a lighter tone or longitudinal stripes.

In sunlight, it seems that the needles on the Korean fir tree shimmer

Dimensions and height of an adult Korean fir

In the wild, Korean fir impresses with its size:

• the height of an adult tree is up to 15-20 m;
• trunk diameter up to 1 m;
• crown width up to 0.8 m.

Among modern decorative varieties there are dwarf (up to 40 cm in height) and medium-sized specimens (over 1 m in height).

Important! Fir trees are long-lived, some specimens reach 150 years of age

300-year-old Korean fir specimens are found in the wild

Growth rate

Korean fir grows very slowly in height - no more than 3-5 cm per year. The stem part, on the contrary, develops intensively. During the first 10-15 years of life, a coniferous tree grows at a slow pace. A 15-year-old Korean fir is considered mature and its growth rate increases to 30-50 cm per year.

To grow a beautiful ornamental plant on your site, you should be patient.

Where does Korean fir grow?

In its natural habitat, Korean fir grows next to birch, pine, and spruce. The plant's homeland is the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island. The tree prefers rocky soil, at an altitude of up to 1850 m above sea level. A century ago, Korean fir was brought to the European part of the continent.

Due to its unpretentiousness to various climatic conditions, the evergreen tree grows throughout Europe.

Most popular varieties

Let's look at the most widespread varieties and list them in Table 1.

Care

Korean fir is demanding only at a young age. The first 3-5 years should be provided with sufficient care, including:

• watering;
• loosening;
• weeding;
• fertilization;
• pruning;
• protection of young seedlings from adverse environmental influences;
• prevention of diseases and pests.

It is recommended to loosen the tree trunk circle as needed. It is enough to capture 5 cm of the surface. Remove weeds in a timely manner. They take nutrients from the roots located above, create a threat of infection of the fir, and are home to many pests. Mulching with fallen pine needles will help reduce the frequency of these procedures.

Violation of the watering regime causes a decrease in immunity.

Compliance with agricultural practices protects the crop from the development of diseases. Violation of the watering regime, lack of light and air are the causes of decreased immunity. Often in this case, Korean fir is affected by rot. Dangerous pests include hermes, spider mites, and various bugs. Plants should be inspected regularly and treated with insecticides in a timely manner.

Watering

The procedure is needed only for young plants that have not had time to take root well. The exception is decorative hybrids, which are more demanding in terms of growing conditions. Korean fir prefers moist soil, without stagnant water. During the rainy season, cancel the procedure; in case of drought, water generously once every 6-8 days. The culture responds gratefully to moistening by sprinkling. It is important not to do this during the day so that the needles do not get burned under the influence of the sun.

Top dressing

The first time is carried out 3 years after planting. One spring application of fertilizer during watering is sufficient per year. You can use a complex universal additive for coniferous species. From organic matter, it is permissible to water with a weak solution of humus or bird droppings, infused for several days. It is important to water abundantly after fertilizing so as not to burn the root system.

Trimming

The crown of the Korean variety of fir forms independently. Only sanitary pruning is required to remove diseased, dried out and pest-infested branches. In autumn, it is recommended to remove the central buds on the side shoots. Some varieties do not tolerate pruning very well and may react with the appearance of dried branches. The crop grows slowly, so it will take a long time to overgrow a remote area.

Preparing for winter

Korean fir is covered with spruce branches or non-woven material for the winter.

The characteristics of many varieties of Korean fir indicate the winter hardiness of the crop. Some varieties tolerate even severe frosts well, but this only applies to adult plants. Young seedlings should be additionally covered. Mulch the tree trunk circle with pine litter, peat or sawdust. Cover the tree itself with spruce branches or non-woven material. It is not advisable to use foam, since fir requires air. The shelter also protects against burnout of needles and the formation of frost holes on the trunk.

Planting Korean fir: lighting and soil requirements

When planting fir, special attention should be paid to the choice of land and soil.

Let's discuss the requirements for the site. In this matter, the tree is quite demanding. Good lighting is a must. Lack of sunlight and even partial shade becomes disastrous for some varieties.

If tall trees grow near the chosen location, they should be removed, as their foliage will create shadow.

Almost any option is used as soil. The main thing is to refine and feed the soil. However, preference is given to acidic soils, sandy soil and soil with a large amount of organic additives.

Experts do not recommend using wetlands, as they have a high level of moisture. If it is not possible to purchase another place, then you need to install a drainage system.

Caring for Korean fir at home

Caring for Korean decorative fir requires compliance with the basic requirements of agricultural technology:

• timely and sufficient watering;
• optimal feeding;
• pruning and haircut;
• preparation for winter;
• control of diseases and pests.

At home you can grow magnificent specimens of evergreen Korean fir

Recommendations for care: watering, fertilizing

Classic care required:

• watering;
• weeding;
• feeding;
• pruning

Young seedlings need more water, as they are actively growing and strengthening their root system. As soon as planting has been carried out, after fifteen days the first watering is carried out, the procedure is repeated every fifteen days.

The same goes for container-grown trees. Mature trees are watered up to three times during the entire growing season. If there is severe drought, then water several times a month.

After watering, the soil is fluffed up and covered with mulch. For mulch, use pine needles or sawdust.

Fertilizing is carried out three years after planting. Special substances developed for the care of coniferous crops are used as fertilizers.

Landing Features

It is advisable to propagate Korean fir vegetatively. To grow on the site, it is recommended to purchase a seedling from a nursery. It is important to preserve the earthen ball and not expose the root system. For this purpose, planting is carried out using the transshipment method. It is important to choose the right location and prepare the planting hole. It is necessary to take into account varietal characteristics.

You need to remember the slow growth of the plant. Landscape designers successfully use this property to create compositions that do not require constant care and replanting. Many tall Korean firs will eventually occupy a large space, so the choice of site should be approached carefully. Transfer of an adult perennial is undesirable.

Selecting a location

The Korean variety of fir prefers well-lit areas. For the first few years, young seedlings will have to be shaded a little, then a sufficient amount of light will be required. Some varieties tolerate light shade well. Decorative subspecies with brightly colored needles require open areas for growing. The crop is wind-resistant, but young plants need to be tied to a support until the root system is well developed.

The Korean variety of fir prefers well-lit areas.

Soil requirements

The perennial prefers moist, loose soil with an acidic reaction. It is not demanding in terms of composition; it grows in natural conditions on soils depleted of nutrients. Does not tolerate heavy, clayey and swampy soils. Requires the organization of a drainage layer; from excess moisture it rots. Prepare the planting hole 2-4 weeks before planting. Place drainage at the bottom, and on top a fertile layer of sand, peat, humus and clay.

To create a lighter structure, add sawdust. Use nitrophoska as a fertilizer, but do not allow it to come into contact with the root system of the seedling. The addition of coniferous litter and soil from a pine or spruce forest will increase the survival rate of the plant in a new location.

On a note! The peculiarity of coniferous plants is that in order to obtain nutrients, mycorrhiza is necessary, which is in symbiosis with the crop.

The addition of coniferous litter and soil from a pine or spruce forest will increase the survival rate of the plant in a new location.

Planting scheme

Plant the Korean variety of fir in April or from late August to mid-September. When planting alone, the distance to other trees and shrubs should be 4-5 m. If the crop is intended to create a hedge, it is possible to reduce the distance to 2-2.5 m. The depth of the planting hole depends on the age and varietal of the Korean fir, on average it is 50-80 cm. By the time of planting, the earth should settle. Be sure to plant in a moist substrate, pre-watered abundantly. The root collar should not be buried or left on the surface.

Reproduction of fir abies koreana: seeds, layering, cuttings

Reproduction by all these methods is effective. The main thing is to do everything right. For clarity, we will place the main points in Table 2.

Planting and caring for Korean fir

Choosing the right place for a plant, following the basic deadlines and planting algorithm is the key to a healthy and beautiful tree. Subsequent care and cultivation of Korean fir in compliance with all rules of agricultural technology allows you to obtain magnificent specimens on the site.

Deadlines

Agricultural technology for growing Korean evergreen fir requires compliance with planting deadlines. The ornamental plant can be planted in open ground in spring or summer. Such specimens require proper watering, and if certain agricultural standards are not followed, they most often die.

The best time to move seedlings into open ground is early autumn. Before the onset of winter, the planting material will gradually take root, and low autumn temperatures and increased humidity levels during this period of the year will contribute to deeper establishment.

Compliance with the correct timing of transplanting fir to the site will increase the exquisite collection of conifers in the garden

Site selection and soil preparation

Many people consider the Korean evergreen fir to be an unpretentious representative of the Pine family. A detailed study can reveal some “preferences” of an ornamental plant for a planting site:

• moist soil without stagnant water;
• good drainage system;
• loamy soil;
• sufficient amount of fertilizer.

Most varieties of decorative Korean fir prefer well-lit or slightly shaded areas

Landing algorithm

Two weeks before planting, the hole should be prepared. Its dimensions are 60x60x60 cm. 2-3 buckets of water are poured into the prepared hole until completely absorbed. The bottom is dug up, filled with crushed stone or broken brick, 5-6 cm thick. The hole is half filled with a fertile mixture of the following ingredients:

• part of the peat;
• part of the sand;
• two parts clay;
• three parts of humus;
• 10 kg of sawdust;
• 200-300 g of nitrophoska.

After two weeks, after the soil mixture has settled in the planting hole, a seedling is placed in the center of the hole, the roots are straightened and the hole is filled to the top with prepared nutrient soil.

The planting site is watered abundantly. To grow a decorative fir alley, you should maintain a distance between planting holes of 4-5 m.

The planting pattern between seedlings for loose groups is 3-3.5 m, for dense groups - 2.5 m.

Growing Korean fir

Compared to other coniferous crops, Korean ornamental fir easily adapts after moving to open ground. After final rooting, young seedlings require proper care.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

Fir is watered in case of dry summer. Moisture-loving varieties need irrigation 2-3 times during the summer season. Other species do not tolerate waterlogging; natural precipitation is sufficient for them.

Fir is fertilized 2-3 years after planting. Complex fertilizers for conifers are applied to the tree trunks of mature trees in the spring.

For one Korean decorative fir tree, 15-20 liters of water per watering is enough

Loosening and mulching

Loosening the soil around the near-trunk space of the Korean evergreen fir is indicated after each watering. This should be done to a depth of 10-15 cm. During the procedure, weeds must be completely removed.

Mulching is necessary for young seedlings. To do this, use wood chips, peat, sawdust in a layer of up to 8-10 cm.

The mulch should be located close to the root collar of the tree

Rules for cutting Korean fir

Trimming is necessary for some varieties of Korean decorative fir. Pruning is done in the spring before sap flow begins. Using garden shears, remove dry, damaged branches and, if necessary, form a crown. Spring annual pruning involves removing no more than 1/3 of the length of the branches.

In most varieties of evergreen Korean fir, the crown does not require formation

Trimming the top of a Korean fir

Experts and experienced gardeners recommend never cutting off the tops of Korean decorative fir. Such manipulations can lead to the death of the plant. This is explained by the fact that when cutting the top, the natural balance between the root system and green mass is disrupted.

Preparing Korean fir for winter

Most varieties of Korean decorative fir can withstand air temperatures down to -39 ⁰C. For winter shelter of young seedlings, you can use spruce branches, which completely cover the rhizome and crown.

Only young specimens need protection during the winter cold.

Control of common diseases and pests

Possible root rot. This occurs due to waterlogging of the soil.

Fungal diseases. For prevention, diseased branches are removed, and the cuts are treated with Bordeaux mixture and garden varnish.

Fungal infection occurs when the crown is very dense. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning.

Possible damage from the following insects:

• leafworm;
• spruce moth;
• aphid;
• Hermes.

To avoid infection, trees are treated with insecticidal substances.

Recommendations

Decorative varieties of Korean fir are more demanding to care for than ordinary trees. Compliance with agricultural cultivation techniques has a beneficial effect on the external condition and characteristics of the plant.

Decorative varieties of Korean fir are more demanding to care for than ordinary trees.

Basic recommendations:

1. In summer, it is advisable for Blue Emperor to provide abundant watering with sprinkling of the crown.
2. For the first 2-3 years, young bushes should be protected from winter frosts and returning spring frosts. To do this, it is advisable to mulch the soil and cover the aboveground part with spruce branches or other available material.
3. It tolerates a superficial pruning once a year well, but it is not advisable to shorten the shoots too much. The bush will grow slowly and take a long time to recover.
4. Blue Emperor fir is recommended for use in landscape design for small flower arrangements, rock gardens, and oriental-style gardens.
5. The small height and diameter of the shrub allow it to be used in garden plots with a small area.
6. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases. Proper care strengthens the immune system and makes the plant resistant to adverse factors.
7. Fir does not tolerate air pollution and smoke, so it is not recommended to plant it within the city.
8. Loosening and mulching the soil has a beneficial effect on the crop.

It is not recommended to plant fir within the city.

Blue Emperor is a dwarf variety that is of interest to collectors, landscape designers and exotic lovers. The high decorative quality of the crown remains all year round. Fir in adulthood is quite unpretentious. It reproduces only by grafting; you can purchase a seedling at a nursery or a specialized shopping center.

Using Korean fir in landscape design

Korean fir, due to its versatility, is widely used to create landscape designs. The tree looks harmonious with other shrubs, plants, trees and compositions of flowers and herbs.

For example, you can plant larch, maple, spruce and pine nearby. Although the needles look great when planted alone.

To create landscape design, abies koreana fir is used to create alpine slides, green hedges and rocky gardens, for public gardens and parks.

The main thing is to plant all the plants correctly, choosing shades and growth. For example, Chinese fir has dwarf varieties; they should be planted together with flower arrangements, small shrubs, such as juniper or thuja.

Let's watch a video about how beautiful the fir looks on the site and learn about the characteristics of different types of this plant:

Varieties of Korean fir

Today, a large number of decorative varieties of Korean fir are known. Many artificially bred varieties deserve special attention. When designing an area, landscape designers around the world successfully use the best specimens. The main types and varieties of Korean fir presented in the photo will help create a general impression of a beautiful evergreen plant.

Korean Fir Molly

Description of Korean fir Molly:

• crown cone-shaped;
• crown height up to 7 m;
• crown width up to 3m;
• cones of a dark purple hue;
• cones length up to 5 cm;
• needles are flat, densely located;
• the color of the needles on the upper part of the crown is bright light green;
• the color of the needles on the lower branches is silver-white, light blue;
• tree growth rate is up to 6-7 cm per year.

Important! The Molly variety is a light-loving crop that does not grow well in the shade and prefers well-moistened soils with good drainage. The plant is sensitive to sudden temperature changes.

The Molly variety does not require crown formation

Korean fir Diamond

Evergreen Korean fir Diamond is a magnificent decorative dwarf variety that is distinguished by a rich coniferous aroma and the following characteristics:

• the root system is compact, well developed;
• crown height up to 60 cm;
• crown diameter up to 80 cm;
• the bark is smooth, gray, without folds or grooves;
• the crown shape is flattened, spherical or hemispherical (in rare cases, pyramidal or cone-shaped);
• growth rate up to 4 cm per year;
• needles curved at the edges, soft, short, densely and tightly planted;
• needles length up to 2 cm;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is from light green to dark green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is silver;
• cones are vertically located, candle-shaped;
• the color of the cones on a young plant is from purple to blue-green;
• The color of the cones on an adult plant is dark brown.

The Brilliant variety is ideal for growing in tubs, flowerpots, and pots due to the compact size of the root system. The dwarf decorative variety prefers light or slightly shaded, windless areas. The soil for growing coniferous plants is slightly acidic and well-drained. The decorative crop tolerates frosts well down to -29 ⁰C.

Attention! The lifespan of the dwarf Korean fir Brilliant is 300-400 years.

For the first few years, Korean fir seedlings of the Brilliant variety are best grown in a greenhouse.

Korean fir Silberlocke

The description of the Korean fir Silberlocke (Silberlock) includes a beautiful evergreen tree bred by German breeders in the late 80s of the last century. This variety does not have resin channels, and the enzyme is formed on the surface of the branches. The plant is characterized by the following characteristics:

• crown height up to 2-5 m;
• the crown is perfectly symmetrical, pyramidal, lush;
• the trunk is thick at the base, gradually widening towards the apex;
• the direction of branch growth is upward;
• The color of the bark of young trees is gray;
• The bark color of mature trees is dark brown with characteristic cracks;
• growth rate up to 12 cm per year;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is dark green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is light green;
• the shape of the needles is twisted;
• aroma of lemon needles;
• cones length up to 6 cm;
• diameter of cones up to 3 cm;
• The color of the buds is purple.

Cones form only on seven-year-old trees. The Silberlok variety is characterized by high frost resistance, heat resistance and drought resistance.

Important! Neutral, slightly acidic, saline, alkaline, and loamy soils are suitable for the crop. The plant reacts painfully to being in the shade and excessively moist soil with poor drainage.

The lifespan of the Korean Silberlock fir is about 50 years.

Korean fir Cohouts Ice Breaker

The Kohout's Icebreaker variety is the most extravagant representative of the Pine family. The famous German scientist Jörg Kohoutem developed this variety, which is why the plant bears his name. The literal translation of the name of the Korean fir variety Icebreaker sounds like “Icebreaker of Kohout”. The external outline of a mature Cohout's Icebreaker tree resembles a small ball strewn with ice fragments. The following features are characteristic of evergreen crops:

• tree height up to 50-80cm;
• tree crown diameter 1.2 m;
• trunk diameter 5 cm;
• shoots are short, densely located;
• the bark of young trees is light brown;
• the bark of mature trees is dark brown with a gray tint;
• the needles are sickle-shaped, curved upward, short, soft to the touch, with blunt tips;
• the underside of the needles is white;
• the upper side of the needles is silver-blue;
• needles length up to 2 cm;
• Czech cylinder cones, candle-shaped, directed upward;
• cones length up to 6 cm;
• diameter of cones up to 3 cm.

Attention! The growth rate of the Kohouts Icebreaker variety is small; ten-year-old trees grow no more than 30 cm in height.

The dwarf variety Kohouts Icebreaker is characterized by a high degree of winter hardiness

Korean fir Blue Magic

Korean fir Blue Magic is one of the new popular varieties, bred from Blauer Pfiff seeds. The ornamental plant has the following properties:

• tree height up to 2 m;
• crown diameter from 1.5 m to 2 m;
• the shape of the crown is cushion-shaped, in some cases in the form of a cone;
• the color of the needles on a tree planted in a sunny area is silver-blue;
• the color of the needles on a tree planted in the shade is blue-green.

The decorative variety Blue Magic tolerates frosty winters well and prefers well-drained, moderately moist fertile soil (slightly or moderately acidic).

Dwarf Blue Magic is ideal for decorating gardens, alpine slides, in group plantings and as a tapeworm

Korean fir Tundra

The dwarf variety Tundra is an unpretentious, frost- and winter-hardy plant, which is characterized by the following properties:

• cushion-shaped crown;
• crown height up to 40 cm;
• crown diameter up to 60 cm;
• bark color reddish brown;
• the needles are short, soft, glossy;
• the color of the needles on the upper side is bright green;
• the color of the needles on the underside is silver;
• cylindrical cones with large resin drops;
• the color of the cones is purple, violet;
• The length of the cones is up to 7 cm.

The Tundra variety is winter-hardy and unpretentious. The plant is sensitive to insufficient moisture and does not grow well in sandy soils.

The growth rate of the Tundra variety is very slow; at the age of ten, the tree reaches a length of about 30 cm. In winter, the color of the Tundra variety's needles changes color.

Miniature Korean Tundra fir does not need pruning and looks impressive in containers, boxes and other containers

Korean fir Compacta

Korean fir of the Compacta variety is a beautiful evergreen plant, which is characterized by the following characteristics:

• tree height from 0.8 m to 2 m;
• crown diameter from 1.5 m to 3 m;
• the needles are soft, short;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is dark green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is silver-blue;
• the color of young shoots is bright green;
• cones length up to 15 cm;
• The color of the buds changes from green, to purple, and then to brown.

The Kompakta variety is winter-hardy and frost-resistant.

Important! For Korean Compact fir, it is necessary to choose well-drained areas, slightly shaded areas, since the ornamental crop does not tolerate sunburn.

The Kompakta variety grows very slowly, the average growth per year is about 7 cm

Korean fir Bonsai Blue

The Bonsai Blue variety is a unique representative of the Pine family. During the first years of life, the dwarf tree only grows in width, forming an asymmetrical surface. After eight years, an apical shoot appears, and by the age of ten the plant reaches 50 centimeters in height. The diameter of the crown is about one meter. The evergreen Bonsai Blue is characterized by the following features:

• the height of an adult tree is up to 3 m;
• the needles are soft, flat in shape;
• The color of the needles is blue-green.

Important! The Bonsai Blue variety prefers well-lit places, partial shade, and tolerates frosts down to -29 ⁰C without shelter.

The annual growth of the Bonsai Blue crown is about 5 cm

Korean fir Oberon

The dwarf hybrid variety Oberon bears the following characteristics:

• cone-shaped crown;
• tree height up to 40 cm;
• crown diameter up to 60 cm;
• the color of the needles is glossy, bright green;
• the needles are short, small, with curled edges;
• vertically arranged cones with dense, resinous scales.

Well-moistened, nutritious soil is suitable for the Korean frost-resistant Oberon fir variety. At first, the plant will be most comfortable in light partial shade.

The growth of the dwarf fir tree Oberon is about 7 cm per year

Korean fir Silver

Variety Silver (Silver) - Korean fir with blue cones. A short representative of the Pine family is distinguished by the following characteristics:

• crown shape conical, dense;
• the height of an adult tree is up to 6 m;
• diameter of the lower part of the crown up to 1.5 m;
• needles are short;
• needles length up to 2 cm;
• the color of the needles on the upper side is blue-green;
• the color of the needles on the underside is silver;
• cones numerous, cylindrical in shape;
• cones length up to 7 cm;
• The color of the buds changes from green to purple and then red.

Important! During periods of drought, the plant must be sprayed with warm water in the morning and evening hours.

Korean variety Silver should be planted in well-lit areas

Silver Show

The Silver Show variety is an artificially bred ornamental plant from the mother variety Silberlock. Translated from English, the name sounds like “silver show”. An evergreen tree has the following properties:

• crown of regular shape, narrow-conical, dense;
• the height of an adult tree is from 5 m to 10 m;
• crown width from 1.5 m to 4 m;
• needles twisted, curly;
• the color of the needles from the bottom is silver;
• cones numerous, erect;
• The color of the buds is purple.

The annual growth of the Korean Silver Show fir variety averages up to 15 cm per year.

Cool climates are ideal for Silver Show. The plant does not tolerate windy places and dry summers. The variety is suitable for nutritious, light, loamy soil, moderate watering, sprinkling of the crown, fertilization with copper-containing compounds. Silver Show should be planted in sunny areas of the garden or in light partial shade.

On sunny days, the twisted needles shimmer, and it seems that there are white snowflakes lying on the branches of Silver Show

Silver Star

The Silver Star variety is a spectacular representative of the Pine family. The ornamental plant is endowed with the following characteristics:

• crown of irregular cone shape;
• tree height up to 1 m;
• crown diameter up to 0.8 m;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is bright green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is silver or white.

For seedlings of the Silver Star variety, you need to choose sunny or slightly shaded areas of the garden. The plant prefers loamy, soddy-podzolic, sandy loam soils.

The annual growth of the Silver Star tree is about 10 cm

Blue Emperor

The Korean fir variety Blue Emperor is a dwarf variety with characteristic features:

• the crown is cushion-shaped, creeping, irregular in shape;
• tree height up to 1.5 m;
• crown width up to 1.5 m;
• the bark of young plants is smooth, light gray;
• the bark of adult plants is red-brown with characteristic grooves;
• the needles are short, slightly rounded at the ends, soft to the touch;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is silver-blue;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is marked with two wide white stripes;
• buds are grooved, yellow, then purple;
• young shoots are light green;
• cones of an elongated shape, vertically located, with bent scales;
• cones length up to 7 cm;
• The color of the buds is blue, purple or violet.

Korean blue fir Blue Emperor is a unique plant whose needles are shaped like small leaves.

For dwarf Blue Emperor, areas in partial shade or full sun are suitable. Evergreen tree seedlings should be planted in nutritious, well-drained soil. The variety does not tolerate stagnant moisture or drought.

The Blue Emperor variety is not characterized by the presence of one distinct trunk (central shoot)

Green Carpet

The Korean variety of evergreen fir Green Carpet is a unique plant that was bred through selection in the Netherlands in 1985. Translated into Russian, the name sounds like “green carpet”. A beautiful creeping variety with characteristic properties:

• the root system is superficial;
• cushion-shaped crown;
• tree height up to 50 cm;
• crown width up to 1.5 m;
• shoots are hard, short;
• the needles are short, with a glossy surface;
• the color of the upper surface of the needles is green;
• the color of the lower surface of the needles is whitish;
• The color of the buds is first green, purple, then brown.

The Green Carpet variety develops best in sunny areas or partial shade. Fertile, acidic, slightly alkaline, well-drained soil is suitable for Green Carpet seedlings.

The annual growth of the Green Carpet variety is up to 7 cm per year

Select

The Korean evergreen fir variety Select is an exquisite, slow-growing plant. The following characteristics are characteristic of decorative culture:

• crown is symmetrical, wide-conical;
• tree height up to 4 m;
• the needles are soft, slightly curly, short, glossy;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is dark green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is white;
• cones length up to 4 cm;
• purple cones.

The dwarf variety Select grows best in fertile, well-lit soils. Select seedlings can be planted on sandy, loamy, fertile, well-drained soils.

The Korean fir variety Select is considered frost-resistant

Taiga

The Korean decorative fir variety Taiga is an exquisite ornamental crop characterized by the following properties:

• crown hemispherical, creeping;
• tree height up to 0.8 m;
• crown diameter up to 0.6 m;
• needles are short;
• the color of the upper part of the needles is dark green;
• the color of the lower part of the needles is gray.

Korean dwarf fir Taiga prefers sunny areas or partial shade. Fertile soil with good drainage and moderate watering are suitable for the plant.

The miniature Taiga fir reaches a height of up to 30 cm by the age of ten, with a crown diameter of up to 60 cm

Dwarf varieties of Korean fir

The dwarf varieties of Korean fir in the photo and in the description are ornamental plants, the height of the bushes reaching 60-80 cm.

The following varieties are considered the most popular and in demand by landscape designers:

• Diamond, the crown height of which reaches up to 60 cm;
• Ice Breaker (Kohout's Icebreaker), crown height up to 80 cm;
• Tundra, crown height up to 40 cm;
• Oberon, crown height up to 40 cm;
• Green Carpet, crown height up to 50 cm;
• Taiga, crown height up to 80 cm.

Korean fir in a pot is an ideal solution for decorating balconies, verandas, local areas and small architectural forms.

Despite their large size, quite a lot of cones are always formed on dwarf trees

Varieties of Korean fir for the Moscow region

According to the photo and description of the Korean fir variety, the following varieties are ideal for growing in the climatic conditions of Central Russia and the Moscow region:

• Diamond;
• Tundra;
• Oberon;
• Bonsai Blue.

Most of the listed varieties belong to the fourth climatic zone. Ornamental varieties are ideally suited for growing in the middle zone. Plants of this group belong to winter- and frost-resistant crops and can withstand temperatures down to -29 ⁰C.

Some winter-hardy varieties of Korean evergreen fir, suitable for growing in the Moscow region, require winter shelter

Korean fir in landscape design

The many faces of Korean fir are widely used to decorate local areas. Trees combine perfectly with other plants, ornamental shrubs, perennial and annual flowers, and herbs.

Well, Korean evergreen fir coexists with thuja, spruce, pine, larch, and maple. Decorative crops are used for various purposes:

• as a green hedge;
• as a component of a rock garden or alpine hill;
• to design a recreation area.

Medium-sized or dwarf Korean fir is a unique plant for decorating any stylistic direction of landscape design

Botanical description

Korean fir Blue Emperor, Latin name Abies koreana Blue Emperor, is a prominent representative of evergreen dwarf perennial shrubs, the height of which rarely exceeds 1.5 m. The plant is characterized by the presence of a cushion-shaped, irregularly shaped crown, up to 1.5 m in diameter. The Korean specimen is classified as slow growing crops, the annual growth of which varies from 5 to 8 cm.

A special feature of fir is the color of its needles. It has a silvery-violet or intense blue color in the upper part and white in the lower part. The needles are short, soft to the touch, and when viewed close up they resemble tiny leaves.

Important! The fir variety described is a hybrid, therefore, to preserve all varietal characteristics, the crop is propagated only through grafting.

The shrub has excellent winter hardiness and can grow in the climatic conditions of the Urals, but in this case it needs insulation for the winter. The buds of the plant are grooved, yellowish in color, and become purple as they mature.

Young branches are light green, the bark is light gray, with a smooth surface, bursts with age and becomes covered with red-brown furrows. The fruits of the shrub are small elliptical cones, 4–7 cm long, which when unripe have a blue-violet color; when ripe, they acquire a brown color with a slight purple tint.

Blue Emperor cones are located on the shoots in a vertical direction.