Larch, European
Larix decidua
Pinaceae - Pine
Description
Leaves: Needles borne singly; 3/4" to 1-1/4" long; deciduous; bright green, turning yellow in fall; triangular or 4-sided in cross-section; soft; alternately arranged on new growth, on older growth occurring in dense clusters of 30 to 40 on spur shoots.
Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; glabrous; orange-brown; obvious spur shoots on older growth. Buds round; dark red- brown.
Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a cone; 3/4" to 1-1/2" long; upright; 40 to 50 thin scales; green or purple turning brown at maturity.
Bark: Thin and smooth on young stems; gray-brown and scaly on older stems.
Wood: Not widely used; sapwood yellowish-white; heartwood yellowish-brown; strong; hard; durable; used for poles, railroad ties, lumber.
General: Native to the mountains of northern and central Europe. Does well in Utah with a moderate growth rate and is quite cold-tolerant. Shade intolerant. Prefers abundant water, but may survive on drier sites. Deciduous conifer (loses its needles every year).
Landscape Use: Beautiful tree with great, golden fall color. Deciduous character is interesting but not everyone likes its winter appearance. Trees I have seen are generally large with strongly pointed, cone-shaped canopys. Zones 2-6.
Cultivars: 'Fastigiata', 'Pendula', 'Varied Directions'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Pinaceae - Pine |
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Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 2-6 |
Type | Conifer |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | High |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | High |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Pyramidal |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
---|---|
Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
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Salt | High |
Drought | Low |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | Medium |
Transplanting | High |