Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Horstmann's Silberlocke

Description:

A stunning small evergreen with amazing year-long color; new foliage emerges shiny silver in spring, fading to sea green with a prominent silver band, needles are held in whorls which displays the colors prominently; a showy garden accent

Ornamental Features

Silver Korean Fir is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive bluish-green foliage with silver undersides which emerges silver in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Silver Korean Fir is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Silver Korean Fir is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Silver Korean Fir will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.