Golden Larch
Larix kaempferi (LAR-iks KAYMP-fer-eye)
Japanese larch is a large, deciduous conifer in the pine family (Pinaceae), native to Japan. The genus name is the classical name for larch trees. The species epithet honors Engelbert Kaempfer, a German botanist and plant collector who visited Japan in the late 1600s. Japanese larch does best when sited in full sun and rich, acidic, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and protection from wind. A site that mimics its native environment of cool summers and cold winters is best. It typically does not perform well in hot and humid summers. The tree will tolerate some light shade, but does not do well in full shade, dry soils, or with exposure to urban pollution. Propagate by seed. When planted from seed, it is slow growing for the first two or three years, but a rapid grower after that. It is easy to transplant. At maturity, it will reach a height of 90 feet or more with a spread of up to 40 feet. The soft, bright green needles turn yellow in fall before falling to the ground in winter. It has a broad, conical crown and slender, pendulous branches, and the gray bark peels off in long strips. The seed cones are colorful in season, starting violet, maturing orange-brown tinged with purple, and finally gray-brown. Japanese larch is distinct in the reddish-brown color of the ripened shoots, the broader gray-green leaves, and the colorful cones with spreading scales. Japanese larch is considered the most ornamental of the larches and is noted for its long life span. Use it in lawns and woodlands. It is ideal for Asian gardens and attracts songbirds. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Potential pests include larch case-bearer, larch sawfly, larch looper, tussock moth, Japanese beetle, redheaded pine sawfly and woolly aphids. Diseases include needle cast, needle rust and canker.
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 54 attributes.
How it fits the guild