Abies koreana Green Carpet - Korean Fir

Abies koreana 'Green Carpet' is a variety of Korean fir with a widely spread, prostrate habit, which is well named 'Green Carpet'. This slow-growing conifer, with moderate development, forms a beautiful mass covered with very dense evergreen foliage. Its needles are wide, short, shiny, with a silver underside, and soft to the touch. In spring, its small brown and prominent buds located at the end of the branches, followed by its beautifully coloured cones, add to the picture. With its slow growth, this variety requires no maintenance, perfectly fulfilling its role as ground cover in small gardens, rockeries, or pots. 

Korean fir, in Latin Abies koreana, is a conifer of the pinaceae family. This species is only found in the mountains of the extreme south of Korea and has become rare in its native country. This small conifer reaches a height of 6 to 9 m (20 to 29ft) in its natural environment and has a compact habit. The cultivar 'Green Carpet' is a small horticultural selection with a prostrate habit. Its horizontal annual growth is around 5 cm (2in). Ultimately, the bush rarely exceeds 60 cm (24in) in height, but it can spread over 2, even 3 m (10ft). It has a compact, perfectly rounded habit, and forms almost a carpet, composed of branches with wide and flexible radiating needles attached, light green on the top and silver on the underside. Its spring buds crown its foliage with a velvet brown. Mature plants produce scale-like and erect cones measuring about 10 cm (4in) long at the end of the branches. Their colour gradually changes from pink to purple and then violet, ending up dark brown in summer. 

Abies koreana 'Green Carpet' is ideal for small spaces. It excels as ground cover, planted in raised beds, on a slope, or in a rockery. Thanks to its slow growth and moderate development, it easily fits into a small garden. Its silhouette blends well with Japanese, contemporary, or more classical designs. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers deserve to be invited more often into our gardens, where they provide permanent structure. These are rather discreet plants in summer but become prominent again in winter when flowering is scarce. They mark pathways, border terraces, and can adorn the corner of a large shrub bed. To accompany Korean fir 'Green Carpet', choose another ground-covering conifer such as Juniperus Blue Carpet or a variety of Chirimen false cypress with a picturesque upright habit. Grasses, with their appearance, complement conifers very well. Consider Stipa tenuifolia, Pennisetum Hameln Gold, or Miscanthus Apetitiv, for example.