HerbMint
Korean Mint
Anise Hyssop
Korean Fir 'Silberlocke' is a stunning evergreen conifer native to the mountains of South Korea, prized for its distinctive silvery-backed needles that create a shimmering two-tone effect on densely branched foliage. This compact cultivar grows slowly to a mature height between 3 and 30 feet with a spread of 10 to 12 feet, making it versatile for hedges, shade plantings, and street tree applications in USDA zones 4 through 7. Purple upright cones appear remarkably early in the tree's life, adding ornamental interest year-round. Best suited to full sun or partial shade with consistent moisture and cool growing conditions, this hardy shrub tolerates deer and rabbit browse while remaining intolerant of urban air pollution and excessive heat.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
7-7
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
48 in
Height
12 in
Width
12 in
Spacing
80–80
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
7-7
Size
48in H x 12in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Korean Fir 'Silberlocke' captivates with short, broad needles that are rich dark green on their upper surface but flash brilliant silver underneath, creating a luminous quality as branches move in the breeze. Purple cones appear upright along the branches when the tree is quite young, offering early ornamental reward. This slowly growing conifer thrives in cool climates and rich, well-drained soils, and its compact pyramidal habit makes it equally at home as a specimen shrub or as part of a structured hedge. Deer resistance and tolerance for partial shade add practical appeal for many garden situations.
Common Uses
Korean Fir 'Silberlocke' is primarily ornamental, valued for hedging, shade tree plantings, and street tree applications where its compact pyramidal form and year-round evergreen foliage provide structure. The upright purple cones and distinctive silvery-backed needles make it a striking specimen plant in foundation plantings or as a focal point in mixed shrub borders. Its deer resistance and moderate maintenance needs suit it well to residential and commercial landscapes in cool-climate regions.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-summer
First Harvest
Mid-spring
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds on the surface of moist potting soil and keep soil evenly moist, cool, and in sunlight until germination. Start seeds indoors and later transplant to the garden.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings in full sun or partial shade, spacing plants 12 inches apart in rich, consistently moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Choose a location protected from strong winds and avoid planting in hot, humid conditions south of USDA zone 7.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantAttracts PollinatorsEdible
Bloom Time
Non-flowering
Attracts
ButterfliesHummingbirds
Tolerances
DeerRabbit
Scientific Classification
Mentha requienii Benth.
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Mentha
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Bush
History & Origin
“Abies koreana originates from the mountain forests of South Korea, where it evolved to thrive in cool, moist climates with well-drained soils. The 'Silberlocke' cultivar represents a selection prized for its particularly striking needle coloration and compact growth habit, allowing gardeners in colder climates to enjoy the ornamental qualities of Korean fir in smaller spaces than the species alone permits. This cultivar has been preserved and propagated through nursery cultivation to bring this Asian native into temperate gardens worldwide.”