Identify the Larch
The larch is a tall, coniferous tree with smooth, orange/yellow-brown bark and light green foliage that changes to golden yellow in the fall.
So how can you identify a larch?
- By its tall stature. Larches can reach heights of 100 to 150 feet.
- By its bark. The bark is very smooth and orange/yellow-brown in color, especially when young. As the tree ages, the bark becomes darker and furrowed.
- By its foliage. In summer, the foliage is like that of a pine or fir, but in autumn it changes to bright golden yellow. This is the only conifer with this trait; other conifers retain their green color in autumn.
- By its fall coloration (which was previously noted).
The larch’s leaves are needle-like and grow in dense clusters on the ends of branches.
Larches are distinguishable by the way their needles grow in dense clusters on the ends of branches. This gives them a feathery appearance, not unlike an evergreen. Because these needles are flat and needle-like, they’re easy to tell apart from other conifers like spruce or cedar, which have softer leaves that roll up much like human hair. Larches also have a light green hue while other coniferous trees often have darker hues of green and brown, which means that the larch is among the few deciduous trees that change color in fall.
The larch is a deciduous conifer, meaning that it loses its needles in the fall.
A deciduous conifer, according to the U.S. Forest Service, is one that sheds its needles in the fall:
> The larch, or tamarack, is North America’s only deciduous conifer and is a member of the pine family with short needles and small cones. Unlike other pine trees, it has a trunk and branches that look like those of most hardwoods. Larches are found throughout Canada and in the northern United States from Vermont west to Alaska.
The larch’s roots can be quite shallow, so do not choose this tree for areas where you want to plant other trees or flowers.
Since the larch has shallow roots, it’s not typically recommended for areas close to houses (unless you want some foundation damage), near pipes or cables, or near other trees. Instead, choose this tree if you need an area cleared out where you plan to plant other trees and flowers later.
Female larches produce small cones (1/2 inch long) that hang down from the branches.
Larches are unique in the coniferous world because they are deciduous.
That means that in the fall, their needles turn yellow and drop off.
That being said, sometimes you may notice them with needles still on them.
This is because larches produce male cones and female cones on separate trees!
Male cones are small (about 1/3 inch long), round, and hang from the branches.
They do not remain on the tree for very long at all – only about a week or two after pollination before falling off of the tree.
Female larches produce small cones (1/2 inch long) that hang down from the branches.
These can be seen hanging from female larches until early to mid-summer when they will begin to open up and release their seed scales as wind blows through them.
The wood of the larch tree is very durable, making it useful for building houses, boats and fences.
The wood of the larch tree is very durable, making it useful for building houses, boats and fences.
The larch’s softness makes it easy to work with and resistant to rot. It is often used in shipbuilding, but it has also been used to build the roofs on houses.
The larch is a tree native to North America and Northern Europe.
The larch is a deciduous tree native to the northern hemisphere. In North America, it is found along both coasts and in the Rocky Mountain region. In Canada, larches are most commonly found along the west coast and in the Rocky Mountains. Larches are also native to Europe and Asia, where they are found in Russia, Finland, northern Scandinavia and western Siberia. The larch was brought to Britain during Roman times by soldiers returning from expeditions to Germany who were familiar with its medicinal uses.