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Abies koreana

Korean Fir

Family PinaceaeGenus Abies

A young conifer of neat conical shape with blue-green needles, growing in rough grass
The whole plantEggmoonCC BY-SA 3.0
Cones and needles of a Korean fir
SeedJan MehlichCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
15-50 ft5-15 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
6-12 ft1.8-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
South Korea, Jeju IslandNotes from web searches
Hardiness zones
5-7Notes from web searches
Note
Avoid soggy conditions that can cause root rotNotes from web searches

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to partial shadeNotes from web searches
Soil
Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Organic matter
HighNotes from web searches
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Can tolerate some droughtNotes from web searches

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed.

Worth knowing

  • The Korean fir grows on the high mountains of South Korea, including Jeju Island. Its cones are dark purple-blue before they ripen. Wikipedia: Abies koreana

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

14% germination in 56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). The cause of the low germinations is not known. A. koreana germ. 70D(1/7 in 8th w) and 40-70D(2/14 in 2nd and 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 8, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

14% germination in 14–28 days.

Germination came in the second week and again in the fourth.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). The cause of the low germinations is not known. A. koreana germ. 70D(1/7 in 8th w) and 40-70D(2/14 in 2nd and 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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