European Larch is a large deciduous conifer in the pine family with a pyramidal to irregular shape and drooping, horizontal branches. At maturity, it can reach a height of 100 feet or more and a spread of 30 feet, making it an ideal plant for a large property. Its slender form when young becomes broader and more irregular with cones and dead branches persisting as the tree ages. The soft green foliage turns golden yellow color in the fall before dropping.The genus name is the classical name for larch trees. The species name means deciduous. European larch does best sited in full sun in moist gravelly loam soils. It does tolerate light shade, but is intolerant of full shade or hot, humid conditions. It performs best in locations with cool summers and cold winters. European larch is a long-lived tree, with specimens in Europe up to 500 years old. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Can be affected by larch casebearer, which eats the interior of the needles. Aphids, larch sawfly, and Japanese beetle are some insects that may affect this tree. Diseases include needle cast and rust, and canker. This tree loses its uniform habit with age.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
more than 60 feet
Mature size
Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Irregular; Pyramidal
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous; Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 1 inch, bright green needles will turn a yellow-amber color in the fall. Needles (to 1.5 inches long) appear in tuft-like clusters. This is a deciduous conifer although, in summer, it can look like a needled evergreen.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
Non-flowering
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
This tree is non-fruiting but produces 1.5 inch reddish-brown cones that are covered with brown hairs.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The attractive bark on the trunk of mature trees is scaly, furrowed and reddish-brown. Branch bark is more smooth and gray.
Stem detail
Unbranched central trunk with numerous lateral branches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and Southern Europe
Distribution
Common as an ornamental in Canada and in the northern United States south to Maryland.