Larix anyone?

Larix has become a genus favorite of mine. The foliage on these is just so soft and pleasant, it's hard to walk by without giving it a touch. What's really neat is that my wife, who generally doesn't pay much attentiion to the trees I plant, has commented how much she likes them. I've got both European and Japanese Larch along with Pseudolarix amabilis, which as you'd expect has very similar foliage. They seem to be vigorous growers, with the European Larch (picture) putting on close to 3' this summer. The Japanese Larch is a bit slower, but shows good vigor. I don't have ideal conditions for growing these, but I'd have them planted all over the place if I could. As far as the Pseudolarix goes, I'm not going to let myself get too fond of it. It survived last winter without any dieback, but I get the feeling I'm on borrowed time.

Yeah, I like them but still don't have one yet. I hope to have the perfect place for them when my neighbor's poplars finally all fall down and I chop down our Siberian Elm. I want the Larix Kaempferi Pedula. I know they are very twiggy looking. Does anybody have winter pics showing them with snow or ice? Do they look good or bad in the winter?

Bill

A proud new owner of Larix lyallii here. From Salicaceae

I am also growing on some of this year's Pseudolarix seedlings of his. These are offspring of the tree in Minneapolis that was planted in the 1930's. If all goes well, should have enough for everyone (40+ as of now).

Hi Rick

1930's! Mmm, maybe I should be a bit more optimistic about the prospects for my Golden Larch. No, bad idea. I'll continue with my strategy of expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised each spring it's still alive.

Larix decidua pendula - Love it!

Winter here is no problem but this is a very sheltered spot. What did nearly KO it was gypsy moth! Never realized it was so susceptible until it was almost too late. This one is rather pampered and recovering well from a very serious infestation. The roots are around the back flush sump for the pond filter so it gets regular doses of pond water.

Snapple! I LOVE your pond.

Larix laricina, straight species for me. I planted about 10 this year. They're all settling in quite nicely.

For all you Larix lovers, I've selected a Larix laricina from Illinois provenance that has bright purple cones that retain their color all summer! I'm still watching it for other features, but if it seems worthy I might introduce it in a few years.
Guy S.

I like them all! Gave away my laricina seedlings to people who fell in love with them. You know: "it's so soft!" and all. Regular people can be such push-overs. But no mistakes here. I get reports back from them now and then on how they still treasure that tree. Still have assorted species as bonsai - one of the toughest genera for forgetful waterers.

Nice cones, Guy! I'm still going to try and work a laricina in, just waiting for the others to get a little bit bigger.

More straight species L. laricina photos-

I would love to have a larch! Can anyone tell me which ones would do well in hot and humid southern Illinois?

Mmmm, so why did they go with Pseudolarix instead of Pseudoketeleeria? Here's a foliage closeup of my Golden Larch.

I have several planted all over my garden. Though I got a weeper who died.
I love the tendrils of first spring leaf emergence.

As you would imagine the "native" larch grows in great numbers just north of the "frozen tundra". Oddly enough as much on dryland as in its usual bog placing. Last to show color in the fall when you thought that you had seen it all: an incredible massed yellow with the balsam and spruce backdrop. Deer avoid eating it, but it is a favorite buck rub in its youth. Those transplanted and used thusly have come back with multiple leaders from below damage and now in the third year a dominate leader has established itself without my help. Ashamed to say: took my first soil sample this fall. PH 4.2, high phosphate,low potash. Establishing a perennial bed, but would be interested in feedback about long range health of zone 4 and lower trees and shrubs under these conditions. Ken

That's extremely acidic. Sounds a lot like a peatlands. Why do you think you have such a low pH soil chemistry?

I have a bonsai larch - the common European kind, that is on;y about 4 feet tall but I've had it for about 20 years - The new growth and tiny cones are a delight!