Growing the Golden Korean Fir

Size and Appearance

The Golden Korean Fir is a small version of a large coniferous forest tree, which develops in time into a perfect miniature. When young it is more or less globe-shaped, but it soon develops a central trunk, with branches radiating out at a low angle, forming a slightly irregular conical tree. It grows between 3 and 6 inches a year, so within 10 years it will be 3 to even 5 feet tall and 1 ½ to 2 feet across at the base. The branches remain alive and healthy to the ground for many years. Like all conifers it continues to grow indefinitely, and one day it will be perhaps 20 feet tall and 10 feet across. When planting, allow room for this possibility, as time flies by quickly, and the idea of someone having to remove such a striking (and valuable) mature specimen is a sad thought.

The stems are densely covered with short needles which curl slightly upwards, making them more dense on the upper side of the branches, and showing off their silvery undersides. In spring the needles are bright golden yellow, which gradually darkens through the summer into lime green, remaining distinctive. Older trees develop the cones that are a striking feature of this species. They are 2 to 3 inches long and stand upright in clusters of 2 or 3 on the branches. They develop first with a blue-gray color, and then mature to a very attractive dark purple, highlighted by spots of white resin.

Using the Golden Korean Fir in Your Garden

Give the Golden Korean Fir a prominent place in your garden – it deserves it. Allow room around it, or plant among shorter-lived small shrubs, to leave room for its future development, and don’t plant within 5 feet of a wall or permanent structure. Grow it in a bed or among rocks and boulders. It looks great as an accent among plants with dark-green foliage, or as part of a collection of colorful conifers. Use it in gardens of any style, including Asian-themed arrangements, where it’s a perfect addition. It could be grown in a planter box of pot outdoors all year in zone 6 or 7, and it’s a great subject for bonsai.

Hardiness

This is a tree for cooler parts of the country, and grows well in zones 4 to 7, but not in warmer areas except in the northwest, where summers are cooler. It’s a great choice for gardeners in cold zones, where plant choices can be more limited.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Unlike most dwarf evergreens, the Golden Korean Fir will grow in partial shade, and in zone 7 especially, it is best for there to be some afternoon shade during summer to prevent the risk of the golden needles scorching. Otherwise plenty of sun is best, and will develop the strongest colors. Older trees are perfectly happy in full sun everywhere. It needs a well-drained soil, and doesn’t grow well in heavy clay soils. Adding some gravel and plenty of organic material will help if your soil does have some clay in it, or tends to be over-wet. It prefers fresh air, and doesn’t grow so well in polluted urban conditions.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pest, diseases or deer don’t normally bother the Golden Korean Fir, which is easy to grow and generally trouble free. We don’t recommend any trimming or pruning. Let your tree grow naturally into its own individual beauty. Simply remove any dead twigs, and once it develops a trunk, keep it to just one central leader.

History and Origin of the Golden Korean Fir

The Korean fir, Abies koreana, grows in mountainous areas of South Korea, reaching about 60 feet tall in the forests. The climate there has cold winters with snow, and cool, humid summers. It was discovered relatively recently – just 100 years ago – by the famous explorer and plant collector Ernest Wilson. The variety called ‘Aurea’, which is known as the Golden Korean Fir, was discovered as a unique seedling at Lohbrunner Nursery, on Victoria Island in British Columbia, Canada. Edward H. Lohbrunner, a keen collector of alpine plants, first offered it for sale in 1956.

Buying the Golden Korean Fir at The Tree Center

It is easy to brighten your garden year round with colorful dwarf evergreens, which are especially useful in colder zones. In any collection the Golden Korean Fir deserves to be a feature, so add it right away to your garden. It isn’t often available, and always in high demand, so don’t pass up this opportunity to add something really valuable – order now.

Balsam Fir trees are the perfect choice for those living in climates with long, cold winters, as the tree will not perform well in locations where summers are hot and dry. Although gardeners living in the coldest areas of the country can sometimes feel limited in what trees will thrive in their location, Balsam Firs take the intense cold without skipping a beat. They thrive in a host of different cool environments from swampy to flat forests, hardwood slopes and mountaintops ranging in height from 2,500 to 3,000 feet.

Growing Balsam Fir Trees

Their slender and conical shape, make the tree a perfect fit for medium-sized landscapes, as the tree does not grow too wide at maturity. While young, the branches hang down almost touching the ground and crushing their needles releases their distinct, piney aroma. The attractive and erect purple cones ripen in autumn and drop from the tree in winter. The cones are covered in fan-shaped scales that are longer than wide, with the seeds ripening in September. When dusted with snow, the purple cones and evergreen limbs add an attractive interest to the landscape. When other trees have dropped their foliage during the winter months, the Balsam Fir continues to add greenery to an otherwise dull area of the yard.

Uses on Your Property

The Balsam Fir makes an eye-catching and outstanding specimen tree. Due to its medium size, slow growth and narrow width you do not have to have a large acreage for its growth. It grows well planted on slopes or a flat area of the landscape and placed where it can be a fragrant star of the show. Due to its shallow root system, it is best to plant in a location where it will not receive strong winds. It is a popular commercially grown Christmas tree, so while it is younger and you can easily reach the branches, hang some holiday lights on it to brighten up those winter nights. If you desire to create a habitat for wildlife in your landscape, the Balsam Fir is a perfect choice. A variety of birds, squirrels, deer and moose use the tree for a source of food and cover.

Planting Location

Balsam Fir trees do not tolerate urban pollution, so they grow better in a rural location. When selecting their permanent site in your landscape, consider the tree’s mature height and width and do not plant in an area where it will interfere with structures or power lines. It tolerates a location receiving full sun to partial shade and planted in slightly acidic soils that drain-well but kept consistently moist. The tree will not thrive grown in heavy clay soils. In addition, the tree does have a moderate tolerance to salty conditions, making it a suitable choice for those living along the coast.

History and Origins of the Balsam Fir

The Balsam Fir tree is native to the United States, with its native range including eastern and northeastern sections of the U.S. and north through Central Canada. In the U.S. it is found growing from Minnesota east to Maine, and throughout the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia. The tree was first described in 1768 and was long used by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal uses. Of all the varieties of Christmas trees, the Balsam Fir is the most fragrant and one of the most popular, holding its needles for a long period when cut. Trees used for the Christmas tree trade are not cut from the wild, but instead grown on plantations, and it takes around five to seven years of growth before it reaches the proper size for use.

The resin the tree produces has a variety of uses from an essential oil for air fresheners and incense, Canada turpentine, and an EPA approved rodent repellent. Traditionally, it was also used as a glue for glasses, a remedy for colds, and the limbs used for mattresses. In addition, the wood is milled for framing lumber, as well as pulped and used in the manufacturing of paper.

Our trees are grown from seed taken from the finest specimens of this magnificent tree and carefully grown in containers for their entire life in a nursery environment. Our Balsam Firs are far superior to ones grown in open fields, which are then roughly dug, potted, and then sold cheaply. Such trees do not transplant well and will often develop poorly and eventually die.

Growing Colorado Concolor White Fir Trees

The Colorado White Fir is a relatively slender, conical tree with a strong central stem, clothed in branches coming off the trunk like spokes from a wheel. These branches grow horizontally when young, and in time the older, lower branches begin to lean downwards, creating a dramatic appearance to the tree. The needles are 2 ½ inches long, flattened, and a pale shade of blue-green. They radiate from the branches in two main groups from either side, with the lower needles curving upwards. This is different from spruce trees, where the needles are uniform in all directions around the stems.

The needles of this tree are the same color on both sides, which is unusual in needle trees, where one side is usually darker. This difference is where the tree gets it botanical name, since ‘concolor’ means ‘same color’. The cones are large, 4 to 6 inches long, and fat, like a barrel. They stand upright on the stems, and begin a greenish-yellow color, turning brown in time and eventually becoming a dramatic purple color. They really stand out when the branches are dusted with snow. The bark of this tree is gray, and thin and smooth on young trees. As the trees age the bark becomes thicker, and develops deep fissures and cracks, which show yellow cork in the lower parts.

Uses on Your Property

The Concolor White Fir is a remarkable specimen tree, perfect for placing on a large lawn, or in the corners of your property. It can be planted on slopes or level ground, and it can also be used as a row, for wind-breaks, privacy screens or boundary markers. Younger trees make fantastic Christmas trees, and they can of course be decorated with lights. The purple cones themselves also add to the festive appearance of this tree.

Planting Location

Plant the Colorado White Fir in rich soil that is well drained. Sandy or gravelly soils are excellent for this tree, which develops a deep root system. Slightly acidic soils are best, and although moist soils are best, established trees have some drought tolerance. It does not grow well in heavy clay. It grows well in areas with long winters, and it is hardy to minus 40 degrees with no problems at all. It does not enjoy hot, humid summers, and so it is not suitable for areas warmer than zone 7. It grows very well in the mid-west, and does better in rural and suburban locations than in the center of cities.

History and Origins of the Colorado Concolor White Fir

The Colorado White Fir (Abies concolor) grows naturally on mountain slopes, in higher areas between 3,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level. It can be found in the mountains of the western USA, in the southern Cascades and Sierra Mountains, from Oregon to southern California. It also grows in the Rocky Mountains from southern Idaho to Arizona and on into New Mexico. It is closely related to another native fir tree, the Grand Fir (Abies grandis).

The timber is used for construction. It does not split or twist, it is light in weight, and it holds nails well. It was first discovered for science by the explorer William Lobb around 1850, as part of his exploration of California. Our trees are grown from seed taken from the finest specimens of this magnificent tree, and carefully grown in a nursery environment, in containers for their whole life. These trees are far superior to ones grown in open fields, which are roughly dug and potted, and then sold cheaply. Such trees do not transplant well, and will often develop poorly and eventually die.

Growing Blue Spanish Fir

The Blue Spanish Fir grows into a upright cone of bright silver-blue foliage, on a tree that will soon be 20 feet tall and could ultimately become a grand specimen up to 80 feet tall. The branches and foliage persist low down for decades, with a width of 15 feet that can ultimately become 25 feet across. You will need some space for this spectacular tree, but something so special is worth every inch.

The strong central trunk carries whorls of horizontal branches, and the smaller branches eventually bend downwards a little, softening the profile and creating a charming effect. After a few years your tree will add to its beauty by producing clusters of cones of a spectacular raspberry-purple color when young, before maturing to dark purple upright cones up to six inches tall.

Hardiness and Pests/Diseases

This tree is hardy to minus 10 degrees, and grows well in warm areas too, so it can be grown all across the country, except for the hottest and coldest areas. Once established it has good drought resistance, although it does best in soil that is not always dry, making it an excellent choice for any area with regular rainfall. It is generally free of pests and diseases and requires no special attention to become a gorgeous specimen. After a couple of years becoming established in your garden, it will grow 12 inches a year, so it will not be long before you have a beautiful tree of real stature in your garden.

Uses of Blue Spanish Firs

Plant the Blue Spanish Fir as a striking specimen in a large lawn, or as a dramatic background plant behind smaller trees and flowering bushes. You will love its brilliant foliage color and dense growth. A row would make a spectacular screen against noise or an unsightly view.

Planting Your Blue Spanish Fir

Choose a sunny location for your Blue Spanish Fir, and give it plenty of room to develop. It should be 10 feet or more from buildings or walls, and plant it well within your property line. Although it can be trimmed up with a trunk, one of the features of this tree is that the foliage is naturally retained almost to the ground even in mature trees, so if plant it in a location where they feature can be retained.

This tree will grow well in most soils, but prefers moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soils to grow to its ultimate potential. However, it is a vigorous and tough tree that will grow well and form a grand specimen almost anywhere. It is free of significant pests or diseases and requires no special care or trimming to maintain its dense growth and elegant form. When young, watch that a second upright central trunk does not develop, and remove the weaker one if you should see two leading shoots in the center of your tree.

History and Origins of the Blue Spanish Fir

The Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) grows wild in southern Spain and northern Morocco. It is usually found in mountainous regions, so it is adapted to cooler areas than we might think, coming from hot countries. It will grow when winter temperatures fall as low as minus 10 degrees, so it is hardy across a wide part of the country. The blue foliaged form known as ‘Glauca’ was found in France among a batch of seedlings in 1867, at the Desfossé and Thuillier Nursery in the city of Orléans.

Despite its long history, it is not seen often in America, and at the Tree Center we are proud to have the rare opportunity to offer something so special to our clients. Our specialist conifer growers have obtained material derived directly from that original parent tree. An ordinary ‘fir’ seedling, or even a seedling Spanish fir, will not resemble this tree in any significant way, so ignore offers of cheaper trees that will not be the true Blue Spanish Fir.

Buying Blue Spanish Fir at The Tree Center

Although it has a long history, and is an easily grown and spectacularly beautiful tree, the Blue Spanish Fir is rarely available in American nurseries or garden centers. So here at the Tree Center we are proud to have located a limited number of beautiful young trees at a specialist nursery. We know you will love this tree, and we also know that many discerning gardeners will rush to have one, so order yours now, as our stocks will not last long. If we are out of stock on this tree, you might also enjoy the Golden Spanish Fir.

Many evergreen specimen trees grow best in cooler areas, but here is a tree that thrives in warmer regions. It is a unique and striking specimen, rarely seen in gardens, and at the Tree Center we are thrilled to have found a supply of this special tree. Unique and rare it may be, but hard to grow it is not. It will grow in a wide variety of conditions, and requires no special care, yet it is rarely available at garden centers and nurseries.

Appearance of the Golden Spanish Fir

The Golden Spanish Fir forms an upright, narrow conical tree around 15 feet tall, gradually growing taller and perhaps eventually reaching 25 or even 30 feet. It remains narrow and is only ever 8 to 10 feet wide at the most. It has a strong central trunk, with side branches that are almost horizontal and smaller branches that curve slightly downwards when mature. Each branch is completely circled with stiff needles about ¾ inch long.

What makes this tree so special and exciting goes beyond its graceful but powerful form. Every spring the red new buds expand and show beautiful golden yellow needles. This beautiful color is mostly on the upper surface of each needle, and persists well through spring, summer and fall. In colder areas, the needles may turn green over winter, but in milder places they keep their golden color all year round. Sometimes the color is almost white, making the tree look, as one gardener put it, ‘frosted with buttercream’.

Imagine how beautiful this golden tree will look rising gracefully from your lawn. Think of the lovely compliment it will make with other plants, especially those with blue or silver foliage. This truly is a one-off tree that is very special, highly valued by knowledgeable gardeners, yet easy to grow, and available right now.

History and Origins of Golden Spanish Fir Trees

The Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) is the national tree of Andalusia and it grows wild in southern Spain and northern Morocco. It is usually found in mountainous regions, so it is adapted to cooler areas than we might think, coming from hot countries. It will grow with winter temperatures down to minus 10 degrees, so it is hardy across a wide sweep of the country, from the southern parts of the Great Lakes to Georgia and across to Colorado, northern California and Oregon. It grows best in areas with good rainfall, and although drought tolerant when established it is not a good choice for areas that are extremely hot and dry in summer.

The golden form of this tree was found in 1868 by the notable French nurseryman and botanist Adrien Sénéclauze, at his famous conifer nursery in Bourg-Argental, central France. It has always been considered an especially fine tree, but it is rarely available and usually seen only in the gardens of specialists.

Planting Your Golden Spanish Fir Tree

Plant your Golden Spanish Fir in a sunny or partially-shaded area. Light shade will maintain the golden color at its strongest, especially if that shade is in the afternoon. This tree is easily grown in any garden soil, but it prefers acid soils, and grows best in moist but well-drained soil. Water it well regularly for the first few growing seasons, until it becomes established. It will grow steadily at about 6 inches a year. The only special care needed is to watch that only one central stem develops. If you see two central stems of about the same height, remove the weaker one to keep a single stem, for the best appearance of your tree.

Buying Golden Spanish Fir at The Tree Center

The Golden Spanish Fir is a very special tree, rarely available to the public and yet easy to grow and extremely attractive. If you want something very special in your garden, then this is it. At the Tree Center, we have been able to obtain a limited number of specimens which we are proud to offer to our clients. This is no ordinary fir tree, and cheap seedling fir trees will never have its unique appearance. We expect high demand from knowledgeable gardeners, so order now while trees from our limited stock are still available! If you’re interested in this tree, or we are out of stock, make sure to also check out the Blue Spanish Fir.

This tree is an ideal choice for foundation planting around your home, especially in cooler parts of the country. It will grow steadily at about 6 inches per year and will eventually make a small pyramidal tree, reaching 12 feet in height (or even taller). It will always be neat and compact and never need trimming to maintain its perfect form. It is the silvery, frosted-look that gives this tree its special character. This effect is produced by the way the needles curl upwards around the stems, showing the white underside of the leaves. So although the leaves are a rich green, the effect is quite silvery, making a perfect contrast with other plants in your garden.

This highly-prized tree is not often available, so we anticipate that our limited stock will not be with us long. Make sure to order now and grow one of the top-rated evergreens for colder climates. You will never regret the day you brought a Silver Curls Korean Fir into your garden.

Growing Silver Curls Korean Fir Trees

Because the Silver Curls Korean Fir will grow in partial shade, unlike most other needle trees, it can be used in lots of parts of your garden. It makes a perfect specimen in a garden bed, or among other plants around the house as part of your foundation planting. It will not grow too tall and dwarf the house, and fills corners and spaces between windows perfectly. A pair of these trees planted on either side of the door, in the ground or in containers, makes a great entrance feature and remains neat without needing any trimming. They also are perfect for planting along a pathway, or at a corner where your path changes direction.

The Silver Curls Korean Fir is a special form of the Korean Fir, quite distinctive and much smaller in growth. It must be produced from stem pieces taken from selected trees and joined to the roots of seedling fir trees. This takes a great deal of skill and patience, so avoid cheaper trees simply called Korean Fir, as these will just be seedling plants with no special features, and they will grow into large trees.

Planting Your Silver Curls Korean Fir Trees

Choose a sunny or partially-shaded location for your Silver Curls Korean Fir. It will grow best in well-drained lighter soil, and does not do well in heavy clay. It should also not be planted near a busy road or in other urban locations, as it grows best in fresh air. This is a very hardy tree, surviving well in temperatures down to minus 30 degrees, and in places with heavy snow falls. It should not be planted in hot and humid areas.

History and Origins of the Silver Curls Korean Fir

The Silver Curls Korean Fir is a special form of the Korean Fir (Abies koreana). This tree grows wild in the mountains of South Korea. It grows into a tall, upright tree 40 to 60 feet in height, with a symmetrical form. It has always been popular as a garden tree in Europe and North American, because it is very hardy and will grow well even with heavy snow and cold winters. However such a tall tree is not suitable for many gardens, so smaller forms are very desirable and quite a few have been developed. Top of the list has to go to the Silver Curls Korean Fir, which keeps the beautiful upright symmetry of the parent tree, but brings it down to a compact size, as well as adding that silver frosting with its curling needles.

This tree was developed by Günter Horstmann, who lived in Schneverdingen, Germany. It was first introduced in Europe in 1979 and came to America in 1986. Since then it has won awards for its beauty and it is a very desirable and highly-prized tree. Besides the attractive foliage and compact size, it also begins to produce cones when the tree is only 3 – 6 feet tall. The cones of the Korean Fir are special and make a great feature. Not only are they a rich purple color, but they stand proudly upright along the branches, like fat candles almost 3 inches tall. In winter they make the tree look very decorative and turn it into an instant, natural, Christmas tree.

We have lots of other dwarf needle-trees that are much more suitable for hot regions, such as Juniper Trees, or Cypress Trees. It is somewhat drought resistant once established, but it should be kept well-watered, especially during the first few years of its life with you.