• Photo of Abies koreana (Abies koreanas)

Plant Profile: Abies koreana

Names

Korean Fir

  • Photo of Abies koreana (Abies koreanas)

Phonetic Spelling:AY-bees kor-ee-AH-nah

Genus:Abies

Species:koreana

Family:Pinaceae

Korean Fir is a resilient evergreen characterized by its striking silver underside on the needles. While it shows greater tolerance to alkaline soils and heat compared to many other fir species, it thrives best in cooler environments. For optimal growth, it should be planted in areas that receive full sun to partial shade, in well-drained, moist soil. This tree has a slow growth rate and, after approximately a decade, will provide a dense canopy of shade. However, it is sensitive to compacted soil and air pollution, and it does not fare well in overly wet conditions. Additionally, deer often pose a threat to its health.

This species is frequently chosen as an ornamental tree for landscaping and can also serve as a Christmas tree. Its shallow root system makes it relatively easy to transplant.

Texture: fine to medium

In terms of pests and diseases, Korean Fir may encounter issues such as root rot, needle rust, and twig blight.

Abies koreana Feature Summary

Abies koreana Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#evergreen
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#green
#gray leaves
#silver leaves
#purple flowers
#pink flowers
#cones
#slow growing
#pyramidal
#conifer
#tree
#transplant
#screening
#gray-green leaves

Similar Plants

Abies koreana is often confused with:

Abies koreana Feature Summary

Fruit
This plant has cones. The cones can be light pink to pale, pale green, to dark brown/dark purple (nearly blackened look) with little green parts.
Green
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Cream/Tan
Pink
1-3 inches
Flowers
Pink, green or crimson flowers in spring; 1 in. cone; blue to violet-purple
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Blue
Green
< 1 inch
Leaves
This plant has .5 to .75 in. gray green needles with 2 white bands on the underside. The needles can even be bright green.
Green
Gray/Silver
White
Needles
< 1 inch
Fragrant
Showy
Long-lasting
Bark
Smooth with resin blisters
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Loam (Silt)

Abies koreana Attributes

Abies koreana: Country Or Region Of Origin

South Korea

Abies koreana: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

More heat tolerant than most firs; easy to transplant

Abies koreana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Abies koreana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Abies koreana Fruit

Abies koreana: Fruit Description

This plant has cones. The cones can be light pink to pale, pale green, to dark brown/dark purple (nearly blackened look) with little green parts.

Abies koreana: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Cream/Tan
grass
Green
grass
Pink
grass
Purple/Lavender

Abies koreana: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Abies koreana Flowers

Abies koreana: Flower Description

Pink, green or crimson flowers in spring; 1 in. cone; blue to violet-purple

Abies koreana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Abies koreana: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Abies koreana Leaves

Abies koreana: Leaf Description

This plant has .5 to .75 in. gray green needles with 2 white bands on the underside. The needles can even be bright green.

Abies koreana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abies koreana: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
White

Abies koreana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Abies koreana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Abies koreana: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Abies koreana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Abies koreana Bark

Abies koreana: Bark Description

Smooth with resin blisters

Abies koreana: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Dark Gray

Abies koreana Stem

Abies koreana: Stem Description

horizontal branches

Abies koreana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Abies koreana Whole Plant Traits

Abies koreana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Abies koreana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abies koreana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Abies koreana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Abies koreana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Abies koreana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Abies koreana Cultural Conditions

Abies koreana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Abies koreana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Abies koreana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Abies koreana: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Abies koreana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Abies koreana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Abies koreana Landscape

Abies koreana: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Abies koreana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Abies koreana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland