Larix species - Larches

Larix - All larches have flat needles (you cannot roll them between your fingers), in bunches of 20 (10) or more on short shoots. The cones persist for 2 - 3 years. Hybrid larch is in reality quite variable and the characters are not always clear cut.

L. decidua European Larch Shoot are golden amber / ‘blonde’ with no bloom. Cone scales are straight and the cones are 2 - 3.5cm ovate. Young shoots are pendent and twigs are usually hairless. This is usually found planted as single specimen trees or in small groups.

L. kaempferi Japanese Larch Shoot are dark orange - brown - purple with white waxy bloom. Cone scales are strongly recurved and ‘rose-like’ when looked at from above. The cones are 1.5 - 3.5cm globose. Young shoots are horizontal or upturned and twigs often have fine hairs.

L. x marschlinsii Hybrid Larch Shoot are orange - brown - purple with slight bloom. Cone scales are slightly recurved and the cones are 4cm ovate. Young shoots are variable in direction and twigs often have fine hairs. This is the larch of plantations and is both the most common and variable as it crosses back to both parents.