Larch

April 13, 2021April 24, 2021
Conifer, Flora and Fauna
by dhir

All photos taken by the author. Last updated April 24, 2021.

Looking up at a larch tree in mid-spring.

I have been seeking a larch tree since last fall when I read about these unique trees. Most conifers (trees with seeds in cones) are evergreen, with green needles or scales year-round. Larch trees, however, are deciduous conifers, meaning they lose their needles each fall and grow them back each spring. This particular tree, which I believe is a European larch (Larix decidua), was stunning in early April with its vibrant green clusters of needles, this year’s bright pink female cones, furry pale male cones, dark brown last-year’s female cones, and light brown pendant twigs. There was so much to observe in such a small area. Looking back, I wish I had taken more photos.

The cones from this larch tree looked similar to hemlock cones.

The flaking bark of the tree looked beautiful in the afternoon sun.

The tiny pink “flowers” are actually immature female cones.

The tufts of needles will continue to grow in length before turning golden yellow and dropping from the tree in the fall.

Looking up at the tree you can see the whitish-green pollen cones (male), the pink female cones, and the vibrant green new needles.

The pendant branches were decorated with new green foliage (needles), brown mature female cones from last year, pink female cones from this year, and whitish-green pollen cones (male).

I will continue to search for the native BC species of larch, which are not actually native to this area of the province but may have be growing here because someone decided to plant them here.

A few days after I took the photos above, I was in a gardening centre and saw a dwarf Japanese larch:

A dwarf larch tree in a garden centre with new spring foliage.

The dwarf larch description. No, I did not buy one.

So head outside this week and look for conifers with tufts of needles. You may be rewarded with the knowledge that you have found an example of a deciduous conifer!

(As a bonus, I found this website with awesome posters of BC trees in honour of BC National Forest Week September 19-25, 2021. Larch is with the conifers.)

BOOKS:

“Larix occidentalis.” Vancouver Tree Book: a Living City Field Guide, by David Tracey, Pure Wave Media, 2016, pp. 88-89.

“western larch”, “subalpine larch”, “tamarack”. Native Trees of British Columbia, by Reese Halter et al., Global Forest-Pure Science, 2003, pp. 46-48.

“Western larch”, “Tamarack”, “Alpine larch”. Tree Book: Learning to Recognize Trees of British Columbia, by Roberta Parish and S. M. Thomson, Canadian Forest Service, 1994, pp. 48-59.