Larix laricinaIndiana Native
Eastern Larch
Other Common Names: Tamarack

Family:

Pinaceae (Pine Family) 74

Genus:

Larix (Larch) 3

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 571

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 2 50

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

Yellow;pink (Staminate.;Rosy-colored pistillate.)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Light bluish-green in summer); Yellow (Showy yellow fall color)

Stem Notes:

Orangish Brown (smooth)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Green or violet when young.)

Ultimate Height:

40-80 feet

Ultimate Spread:

15-30 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 192

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained, acid soils.

Range:

Northern North America, from the Artic Circle in Alaska and Canada southwards to northern Pennnsylvania, Minnesota, and Illinois.

Maintenance:

Low 264

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The leaves are pale green with 2 stomatal bands beneath, 3/4 to 1 1/4" long, 1/50" wide, 3-sided, strongly keeled beneath, on short spurs 12 to 30 per bundle. Buds are rounded, glossy dark red, slightly resinous. Cones are egg-shaped, small, 1/2 to 1" long, 1/4 to 1/2" wide, with 15 to 20 scales, green to purple, maturing to straw brown. Flowers are monoecious, sessile; staminate yellow, pistillate, rosy colored.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Fall Color 238

Indiana Native 162

Salt Tolerant 60

Wet Soil Tolerant 109

Slow Growth Rate 271

Additional Information

The Eastern Larch, or more commonly referred to as Tamarack, is a cold hardy deciduous pine found in northern portions of Canada, Alaska, and as far south as Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The Tamarack grows in particularly moist soils and is salt tolerant. It grows open and pyramidal with a slender trunk, and has horizontal and drooping branchlets. During the fall, its soft, blueish-green needle-like leaves turn a rich, golden color. This tree does best in cool climates and does not grow from zones 6 and higher due to too high of temperatures.