Korean Fir 'Aurea'

Korean fir 'Aurea' (Abies koreana 'Aurea') is a small golden tree for your garden. In spring the needles glow lemon-yellow, by winter the gold softens to pale green, and the underside of every needle carries two white bands. The result is a crown that looks golden and silver at once, depending on how the light falls.

It grows slowly, 8-15 cm a year: at ten years it stands around 0.9 m tall and 0.45 m wide, so it settles happily into a small garden, a rock garden or a large patio container. Young plants keep a rounded shape before a leader takes over. It looks its best as a specimen against dark conifers.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The fir sets cones early, while still a young plant: purple-violet, they stand upright on the branches like candles.
• Dimensions: At 10 years: 0.9 m tall and 0.45 m wide, growing unhurriedly.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 5).
• Light: It comes into its own in full sun or light partial shade - what matters is a cool spot that does not overheat.
• Soil: It loves fertile, moderately moist, slightly acidic soil with good drainage.
• Watering: Water it evenly: it dislikes drying out just as much as it dislikes boggy ground.
• Care: It asks for almost no care and needs no pruning - just keep an eye out for root rots, needle rust and shoot dieback.
• Landscape use: A fine specimen plant, part of a living screen, or your own Christmas tree right in the garden.
• Origin: Selected as a seedling at the Lohbrunner nursery in Victoria, Canada, and introduced to cultivation in 1956.