My tree is now close to 15 feet tall and a specimen that always draws “oooos” and “ahhhs” from my guests. I purchased my ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ about 18 years ago through a special package deal that the American Conifer Society was promoting. The tree grows into a formal upright conical shape that can look great as a lone specimen commanding all attention, or placed in a large border with other colorful conifers and flowering plants. The overall effect looks like silvery locks of hair. The “Silberlocke” translates to “silver lock” because the green needles curve upward around each branch exposing their bright white undersides. The cones are a real bonus since ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ is already a great conifer even if you don’t have a particular interest in cones. Later in the season, as the cones mature, they become a darker brownish purple color and are often found to be oozing a significant amount of resin.

The young, light yellowish green cones might be missed with casual observation, but by looking closely, one may find a treasure of small, highly detailed cones among the upper branches of even young trees. With young cones ranging in colors from scarlet red, to dark blue and purple, to yellowish green, and with their assortment of sizes and shapes, I want to be sure to discover every one in my garden.Ībies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ is one conifer that sets its cones prolifically in the spring. With all that going on, it can be easy to miss the early cone development stages of some of my conifers. Most of my attention is drawn by the new foliage on my conifers and Japanese maples, as well as the various flowering bulbs and perennials that begin their show in spring. The beauty of fresh new conifer foliage is a wonderful highlight to the garden in spring. Springtime is great because all the plants in my garden begin to wake up after their winter’s nap and show new life. This was during the early part of the long reign of King Henry 111 of England, 1216 - 1272.One of the reasons I love conifers so much is the grand assortment of cones that are borne on their branches. The first known recording is proably that of Adam Selverloc, in the court rolls of the city of Worcester, in the year 1221. The early recordings include John Silverloc of Somerset, a witness at the Assize Court of the year 1268, and later, Elizabeth Silverlock, who married Gilbert Seabrooke in London, in 1622. These are often satirical, but not so in this case. It is estimated that over 20% of English surnames are nicknames. The two men are rescued by some Vikings, reach a vast island named 'the Commonwealth' and soon end up at the Battle of Clontarf. The deriavtion is from the Pre 7th century words 'selver loc', as reflected in the first known recording as shown below. Golias and Shandon-whom Golias has dubbed 'Silverlock' due to a white streak in Shandon's hair-make landfall on another island where Silverlock runs afoul of a touchy sorceress. More probably to be grey haired was to be an automatic 'Elder' of the community, and hence treated with considerable respect, one who was 'touched by god's hand'. In the 20th century the name could be applied to over one third of the population, but not in 13th century, when to live beyond forty was at least to be regarded as a 'survivor'. It is, or rather was, a either a name of status or a nickname for a person who perhaps was prematurely grey haired.

This is a pre medieval English surname, generally recorded in the West Country, which perhaps should be better known.

Silverlock tree