What kind of tree are larches?
larch, (genus Larix), any of about 10 to 12 species of coniferous trees constituting the genus Larix of the family Pinaceae, native to cool temperate and subarctic parts of the Northern Hemisphere. One species, Larix griffithii, is found only in the Himalayas.
Where do larch trees grow?
Like most conifers, larches need full sun, but they are one of the few that prefer to grow in wet soil. The soil must also be acidic and rich in organic matter, mimicking the boggy locations where these trees are found in the wild. The Larch tree is at home in very cold temperatures found in extreme northern latitudes.
What is special about larch trees?
They are conifer trees like pines because they have needles instead of leaves, and their seeds grow in cones. Unlike pines they are not evergreen; they are deciduous. In the autumn, the needles of larches turn golden and then drop off the branches.
Is larch fast growing?
Larch is a fairly rapidly growing tree, whose long-lasting timber is very good for fencing, furniture making and boat-building amongst other uses.
Where can I find larches?
Their range extends north from the Wenatchee Mountains to British Columbia and Alberta, and east to northern Idaho and western Montana. In Washington state, both species grow on the sunny, eastern slopes of the Cascades, although western larch can be found a bit west of the Cascade Crest.
Is larch better than pine?
The structural properties of Siberian Larch are far superior to treated pine and really are better than any softwood out there. Siberian Larch is the hardest softwood around. On the Janka scale, it has an average hardness of 1100 lbs/in2.
What does a larch tree look like?
Larch trees are large deciduous trees with short needles and cones. The needles are only an inch (2.5 cm.) or so long, and sprout in little clusters along the length of the stems. Each cluster has 30 to 40 needles. The cones start out red or yellow, turning to brown as they mature.
How do you tell if a tree is a larch?
Larch Tree Identification It’s easy to identify larch trees in the fall by their hues of warm yellow colors when their characteristic flat, pine-like needles turn yellow before falling to the ground. Larches also have identifiable pinkish or reddish-brown bark with shallow fissures.
What is a larch tree look like?
Is there a dwarf larch tree?
Although most are massive trees, there are a few types of larch trees for gardeners with less space. Larix decidua ‘Varied Directions’ grows 15 feet (4.5 m.) ‘Puli’ is a dwarf European larch with lovely weeping branches held close to the trunk. It grows up to 8 feet (2.5 m.)
Does larch need treatment?
Larch does not need treating but I love the colour of it and to ensure we can see it for a very long time we’ve treated it with Clear Carefree Protectant. Of course, being made from Larch you do not have to treat it, it is a very oily, resinous and dense wood that does not need any maintenance.
What is the scientific name of larch tree?
Larch trees (botanical name Larix) are tall deciduous conifers with soft needle-like leaves growing radially in small tufts on branches. Larch trees are identified by their pyramidal growth, typical of most conifer species.
Are there any hybrids of the Larix species?
Aside from the abovementioned species, several hybrids exist, including Larix x czekanowskii, Larix x marschlinsii, Larix x maritima, Larix x stenophylla, and Larix x lubarskii.
What does a western larch tree look like?
Its branches have clumps of needles like pine trees, and cones with distinctive whiskers sticking out beyond the scales and flaky gray or brown bark. The Western Larch is one of the two larch species native to Washington state. The other is the alpine larch ( Larix lyallii ).
Where do larch trees grow in Canada?
They are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada. Although a conifer, the larch is a deciduous tree and loses its leaves in the autumn.