Plant of the Month - December, 2005

ARBORETUM PLANT OF THE MONTH FEATURE by Gary Whittenbaugh ROOTS Board Member Abies koreana 'Silberlocke' The Korean fir is one of those "show-off" conifers with beautiful needles and purple cones. Yep, that's right! Purple cones. However, if you suffer from "zoneitis," you may be afraid to try this conifer. Many references rate this as a zone 5 to 6 or just zone 6 plant. However, have no fear! I have seen many Korean firs doing very well up here in far northeast Iowa (zone 4) where there is not much for protection between us and the north pole but a barbed wire fence and two strands of that are missing! One of the most striking cultivars of this species is 'Silberlocke'. You may also find this listed as 'Horstmann's Silberlocke'. I consider this cultivar size-wise as a large dwarf or small intermediate. Silberlocke has beautiful twisted needles that reveal their silver underside. This is one of those conifers that, when I see it with its silver color foliage and deep purple cones, never fails to turn my crank! I hope you take time this Christmas season to visit the Arboretum and the conifers. When you come across Abies koreana 'Silberlocke' I am sure you will agree that it looks like the staff at the arboretum has spent hours and hours getting it for ready for the Christmas season. But, let me assure you, they haven't. It just grows that way. By the way, I hope you can come to the Arboretum this winter after a light snowfall. When you see the conifers with a little snow cover I am sure they will all "Turn Your Crank!" About the Author Gary Whittenbaugh is the retired president and former co-owner of Service Center, Inc. in Oelwein, Iowa. He has been gardening for more than 30 years, with the past 15 years dedicated to working especially with dwarf, slow growing and unusual conifers. Currently he is president of the American Conifer Society Central Region, a member of the board of directors and a state representative for Iowa with the American Conifer Society. In addition to being a Master Gardener and serving on the board of Iowa Master Gardeners, he is a member of the North American Rock Garden Society. In recent years, Mr. Whittenbaugh has appeared on public television, lectured extensively about conifers, and was a keynote speaker at the Conifer Society's national meeting in 2002. He has taught classes about gardening in Davenport, Iowa, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Rock Island, Illinois. His small garden in Oelwein (gardened with his brother, Tom) received the first place award for the best landscape given by the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce.