Where is the best larch. Larch: types, properties, use, contraindications, recipes
Distributed everywhere, larch avoids only the tropics. Northern beauty easily takes root and on Far East, and in the south of Primorye, pleases the central regions of Russia with its delicate needles, but its favorite habitat is Siberia. Majestic wood, reaching a height of 40 meters in nature, is used in landscape design .
Kinds
Larch, a member of the Pine family, shines with emerald green in summer, and sparkles light in autumn. yellow needles. This is the only coniferous tree that loses its completely non-thorny needles for the winter. Long selection work made it possible to adapt the unique plant to garden culture.
Today, to decorate private estates, several types of wood are offered, which include Siberian, European and Japanese larches. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Siberian larch - durable, light-loving and frost-resistant tree. Grows up to 40 meters early age the crown is pyramidal, later acquires an oval-rounded shape. It takes root well on various soils, but prefers a high content of lime. The needles painted in light green tones, blooming, exude a pleasant aroma. Varietal variations of the tree are associated with the shape of the crown. At compact (f. compacta) it is dense, with dense branches closely adjacent to each other. F. decuminata or blunt is distinguished by a cylindrical crown, without a sharp top. meet and pyramidal (f. fastigata) And weeping (f. penduda) species, respectively, are also distinguished by the shape of the crown.
mixed forest lover European larch refers to close relatives Siberian species, but differs from its sister in a cone-shaped crown, cone structure and seasonal development. Breeders consider it the fastest growing of all larch species. For decoration, the long vegetation of the species is especially important, which allows you to create amazing coniferous groups. Among the varieties, it is worth highlighting the dwarf Kellermannii (Kellermannii), which forms a coniferous bush, Pendula (Pendula) or weeping larch, and Repens (Repens), creeping branches along the ground.
wide pyramidal Japanese larch or Kaempfer larch reaches a height of 35 meters. Long needles (5cm), blue-green color frames the multi-vertex crown of the tree. In conjunction with red-brown bark gives a stunning decorative effect. The branches of the tree are covered with spherical cones. Gardeners note such varieties as Blue Rabbit, fast-growing and very beautiful, Diana, decorated with swirling branches, and Wolterdingen, whose crown diameter is larger than its height.
Landing and care
The unpretentious larch tree feels great both in the forest and in the urban jungle. root system larch is very well developed, which allows it to survive in any type of soil, but it does not like stagnant moisture.
Where and how to plant
For planting choose seedlings 2-4 years of age. Larch is planted seasonally in early spring or in the fall, after the leaf fall has passed. If it is planned to create walls from larches, trees are planted at a distance of 2-4 meters from each other. The place should be open, with sufficient sunlight Sveta. A little shading is only allowed for the Japanese look.
The very planting of larch requires caution, it is important not to damage the mycorrhiza (fungal root) of the root system, otherwise the seedling will die.
The planting depth of a young tree is approximately 70-80 cm. For the soil, we prepare a mixture of peat (2 parts), leaf ground(3 parts) and sand (1 part). In heavy soil, laying on the bottom of the drainage is necessary.
Most gardeners are attracted by larch on a trunk, which allows you to form a slender, beautifully shaped tree from almost any species. As a rule, 60-70 cm are left for this to the first branch.
Watering
Summer drought is detrimental to the plant. At this time, decorative larch should receive 15-20 liters of water 2 times a week. The rest of the time, the intensity of watering is reduced, the tree has enough moisture obtained from nature.
pruning
Planting and caring for larch include a lot of nuances. A coniferous tree with falling needles is picky, but even without due attention it quickly exhausts its strength. In terms of pruning, it should be noted that the tree is not suitable for figured decor, but its crown can be formed. In the spring, it is useful to cut off large branches, and to enhance bushiness, young shoots must be ruthlessly removed. The shoots are cut out at a time when they have ceased to grow actively, but the stems have not yet become stiff. With the help of pruning, you can give the tree a simple shape of a ball or pyramid, pruning helps, and control the height of the plant.
Sometimes landscape designers resort to the simultaneous weaving of flexible young branches and pruning, which turns a familiar plant into a tree from a fairy tale.
reproduction
The main method of reproduction of larch is sowing seeds. They can be taken from cones collected from an adult tree or bought at a store. Sow seeds, mixing them with sand, in prepared boxes, do it in the winter.
Pour the seeds thicker, they do not germinate well, and only with abundant sowing is there a chance to get several successfully sprouted future seedlings. In spring, the boxes should be taken to a sunny place and young plants should be watered regularly. Seedlings that have grown stronger and have reached the age of two can be transferred to open ground.
Grafting cuttings from larch is problematic. As a rule, they do not take root well, but designers and gardeners take risks using this method of propagation for special types of trees. The method is not suitable for open ground, but gives certain results in special nurseries.
make-up
To fertilize the soil around the tree, it is necessary to use compounds containing magnesium and potassium. To support the shoots in the spring, 100-120 g per square meter of Kemiry are applied. Larch loves mushrooms very much, so you can water it with the water left after washing the mushrooms, and it is useful to bury two or three rotten edible mushrooms in the soil under the tree.
Diseases and how to avoid them
The main enemy of the tree is the larch mining moth. It makes the needles of the tree flabby and white. Affected shoots are removed, and the tree is treated with insecticides based on mineral oils.
Larch and coniferous scales attack. Akin to aphids, they are covered in white bristles and are easy to spot. The worms actively breed in dry weather, when there is no rain for a long time. Insecticides will also help get rid of them.
There is a risk of frost damage to young shoots, but this is not detrimental to the plant. Remembering how to plant larch, you can take this factor into account and cover the seedlings with spruce branches for a while. However, shoots quickly recover from such a blow.
Name: the word "Larix" as a scientific name was introduced into literature long before Carl Linnaeus, at the beginning of the 16th century.
Its origin is not entirely clear. Some authors believe that this is the Gallic name for the resin, or they derive it from the Celtic "lar" - plentiful, rich (very resinous). According to others, this word comes from the Latin "laridum", "lardum" - fat, due to the great resinousness of the trees. In Carl Linnaeus, this is the specific epithet that Miller used as a generic name, separating larches from pines.
Description: The genus includes about 20 species distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Tall, beautiful, fast growing, monoecious coniferous trees with needles falling down for the winter. In youth with a clear cone-shaped crown, in old age - widely spread. In sparse plantations and in lonely standing trees, the crowns are spreading, in closed stands they are highly raised, relatively narrow. Branching rare, through. The needles are soft, narrow-linear, single on elongated shoots, spirally arranged, on short ones - in bunches of 20 or more needles. In spring, the needles are light green, in autumn - golden yellow tones. Cones are round, ovoid or almost cylindrical. Blossom annually in early spring, cones ripen in the year of flowering. Seeds (2) under each seed scale, almost trihedral, with a large leathery wing (x-12). Seeds are released in early spring or summer of the following year, and empty cones adorn the trees for several years. Seeds remain viable for 1-2 (3-4) years. Seeds from solitary trees are almost indistinguishable.
Durable. They have a well-developed root system that goes deep into the soil. Grow fast. Lives up to 500-600 years. Smoke and gas resistant. Winter-hardy. Withstands a sharply continental climate, very low temperatures air and can grow on permafrost. Due to the annual shedding, needles are the most resistant in landscaping large industrial centers.
Most often we cultivate Dahurian And Siberian(L. sibirica) larches. They belong to different groups of species, differing mainly in the size of the cones and the number of scales in them. The Siberian cone, by the standards of larches, is large (up to 4–5 cm), the Daurian cone is much smaller, up to 2–2.5 cm. These larches also differ in appearance - the Siberian bark is darker, and the tree itself is stockier, more powerful . Daurian larches are slightly lower and at the same time slimmer, and their bark is lighter. The needles are larger in Siberian larch, but this difference is not so striking. Siberian larch is distributed from the east of the Arkhangelsk region through the Urals to the Altai and Yenisei, and almost all of Siberia east of the Yenisei is occupied by forests of Daurian larch.
On the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin lives olginskaya larch(L. olgensis), a relative of the Dahurian. This is one of the most decorative larches, tall tree with light gray skin. Unfortunately, it is still not widely spread in culture, although it certainly deserves it.
Found in Japan and Korea Japanese larch(L. leptolepis), which has the most spreading crown among the entire genus - some branches can reach a length of 15 m. Such a tree with a wide pyramidal silhouette, growing singly and branching almost from the ground itself, looks extremely impressive. Large cones of this species are also unusual - the ends of the scales are bent back, like the petals of miniature roses. And due to the fact that, like all larches, these cones do not fall off, but remain on the branches, the tree retains its decorative effect for many years.
In Europe, it is common and widely used in horticulture. European larch(L. decidua). This is perhaps the largest of the larch trees - old 200-300-year-old trees in the Alps reach 50 m in height and 2 m (or more) in diameter. It is on piles of this larch that Venice stands - after all, the wood of all larches does not rot in water (and is also so dense that it sinks). But it is difficult to use European larch in the construction of ordinary buildings - the fact is that its huge trunks are by no means similar to straight, like an arrow, trunks of spruces and fir trees. With age, they often take the form of a giant corkscrew, which, along with drooping small branches, gives the European larch a great decorative effect. This twist is devoid of Polish larch(L. polonica), an inhabitant of the Northern Carpathians. It was precisely the alignment of the trunks that became the reason that this species was practically destroyed "for economic needs." Several hundred mature trees of this species remain only in northern Slovakia.
In America, there are only two types of larches - western(L. occidentalis) and american(L. laricina). Western larch is similar to Siberian larch, only larger and with more “shaggy” bark, while American larch has a rather unusual appearance - the bark is dark and smooth, like a fir, and the crown is low and often irregular. This larch grows slowly, its cones are the smallest among all representatives of the genus (no larger than 1.5 cm) and contain only 2–4 seeds. Such "consumption", however, is justified - after all, the natural habitat of the American larch is the swampy tundra of eastern Canada.
Both North American larches are rarely grown in Europe, and the Chinese species are almost completely unknown to us as horticultural objects. Meanwhile, almost half of the species of this genus grows in China. We only mention that the North Chinese Prince Ruprecht larch(L. principis-ruprechtii) is similar to the Daurian, and has the largest cones larch Potanin(L. potaninii) from the mountains of Sichuan and Eastern Tibet is the fastest growing and at the same time the least winter hardy.
Once this plant was rarely found in Russian estates. Only a very wealthy person could order seedlings from Siberia, and larch was considered a sign of prosperity. They dropped her off at the front seats. And now in Kuskovo, in the parterre, some of the oldest trees in Moscow grow. The trunks of these giants can wrap their arms around several people.
Today, larch is not at all uncommon. In cities there are alleys from it, and even arrays. But in private gardens, it is not so popular. It is believed that in modern areas this large tree simply does not have enough space. However, chestnut and spruce are planted with enviable constancy, and they have no smaller sizes, and the crown is denser. In addition, larch has many more compact decorative forms. Basically, they do not belong to the favorite of our ancestors Siberian larch(Larix sibirica), and European(L. decidua) and Japanese(L. kaempferi). They are absolutely stable in central Russia and unpretentious. About 40 varieties of these two species are quite diverse. Among them you can find cultivars with blue (L. Japanese " blue haze") and green (L. European " compacta") needles, weeping (L. European " viminalis") and pyramidal (L. Japanese " Pyramidalis Argentea"), pillow-shaped (L. European " Corley") and creeping (L. European " Repens"), with twisted shoots (L. European " Cervicornis") and with sharply vertically hanging (L. Japanese " Inversa"), and the size of an adult plant starts from a meter mark (L. Japanese " Blue Dwarf").
In addition, larch perfectly tolerates a haircut. Balls on the trunk, low openwork hedges, pyramids of various sizes - even from ordinary Siberian larch, you can do anything. As a result, you will receive not only a beautiful plant of the desired height, but also a good anti-stress therapy from the shearing process. They respond well to pruning and old trees. Adult larches, if they are cut hard, leaving the trunk almost clean, are transformed. Sleeping buds wake up, and the plant first turns into a beautiful bright green cone, and then into a sprawling tree with a fairly wide crown.
Not all big deciduous trees in our gardens they will endure such pruning. And here is coniferous, and besides, with stunning autumn coloring.
 American larch or larch- Larix laricina (Duroi) K.Koch = L. americana Michx.
It originates from North America, where it grows from the tundra zone in the north to the prairies in the south, from the Arctic Circle in Alaska and Canada south to the states of Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Illinois. In the north, it is confined to well-drained plateaus, banks of rivers and lakes, forms extensive pure plantations and in mixed forests with black spruce, balsam fir, Canadian spruce and paper birch. Deciduous tree up to 25 m tall with a beautiful narrow pyramidal or cone-shaped crown formed by serpentine curved branches hanging down. The color of the trunk varies from dark brown to gray. Young shoots are brown-orange or ocher, with a bluish bloom. The needles in the spring are very tender, light green, later darker, up to 3 cm long. It is considered the most photophilous and slowly growing breed among the representatives of the genus. The needles bloom in mid-April, fall off in November. Propagated by seeds. Thanks to the graceful, small-branched crown, it retains its green outfit longer than others. Cones are small, very decorative, purple-red before ripening and red-brown - mature. Introduced into culture since 1737, in St. Petersburg in the Catalogs of the Botanical Garden since 1824, where it is grown to this day. Rarely seen in culture. In GBS since 1956, 8 samples (59 copies) were grown from seeds sent from Canada and the USA. Tree, at 23 years old, height 18.6 m, trunk diameter 29.0/38.0 cm. Vegetation from 18.IV ± 5 to 22.Х ± 4, 176 ± 5 days. Annual growth 12 cm. Dusty from the age of 7, annually, sometimes abundantly, from 21.IV ± 3. Winter hardiness is high. Without processing, winter cuttings do not take root. It is found in the gardening of Moscow, but rarely. It grows well in the maritime and continental climate of Europe, it is considered more hardy to the climate than the European larch. It grows more slowly than other larches, vegetation comes later than other species. Prefers well-drained soils and bright spots. Removes excess moisture. It deserves wide use in the form of single and group plantings in parks and forest parks, especially on highly moistened soils. Suitable for landscaping the banks of reservoirs and wetlands. "Aurea" ("Aurea")- the needles on the shoots are golden yellow, light green for a short time in summer. The decorative form was obtained by growing from seeds in 1866 by gardener Sensclaus. "glauka" ("Glauca"") - steel blue needles. Found by the famous botanist Beissner in 1907 in the botanical garden of Stockholm. Photos EDSR. |
| Arkhangelsk larch, or Sukacheva - L. archangelica Laws. (L. sukaczewii Dyl.)
It grows wild in the northeast of the European part of Russia, the Urals and the southwest. Western Siberia. For the most part, it grows together with other forest species. Sometimes forms small pure stands. Protected in nature reserves. Tree 30-40 m tall. A species close to Siberian larch, from which it differs in candelabra-like raised branches, larger cones (2.3-3.7 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm thick), with big amount(25-50 pcs.) seed scales that remain on the plant for a long time, a different color (violet-brown) of old cones, as well as wider (12-20 mm wide) and distinctly spoon-shaped seed scales. In autumn it turns yellow and sheds needles later than Siberian larch (Wolf, 1925). In terms of winter hardiness, it does not differ from other types of larch, and is not inferior to them in terms of growth rate. Growing features are the same as those of Siberian larch. It is used for green building and forest crops on a par with Siberian larch. In GBS since 1953, 1 sample (30 copies) was grown from seeds obtained from the Kirov region. Tree, at 37 years old, height 22.0 m, trunk diameter 40.0/51.5 cm. Vegetation from 16.IV ± 8 to 24.IX ± 6 for 173 ± 6 days. Annual growth up to 40 cm. Seeds ripen at the end of September. Propagated by seeds. Winter hardiness is high. Seed germination 18%. When winter cuttings were treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 24 hours, 5% of rooted cuttings were obtained. In landscaping, it is much less common than Siberian larch. |
| Gmelin larch, or Daurian- Larix gmelinii Ldb. = L. dahurica Laws.= L. cajanderi It forms large massifs in the vast expanses of Eastern Siberia, the Far East and Northeast China. . In moss swamps, in the mountains it rises up to 1400 m above sea level. seas. Protected in nature reserves.
Large deciduous tree up to 45 m tall. The crown of young plants is ovoid-pyramidal, with age it becomes broadly ovoid, openwork, and the trunk is multi-topped. The bark on the trunk is thick, deeply furrowed, reddish or gray-brown. Annual shoots are light orange-yellow or reddish-brown, sometimes with sparse hairs. Soft, narrow-linear, light green needles 1.5-3 cm long bloom earlier than Siberian larch (before the soil thaws in the root zone). In spring, the color of the crown is soft light green, in summer - bright green, in autumn - golden. It differs from other species of the genus in smaller cones (1.5-2.5 cm) with erect scales. Seeds obliquely obovate, light, 0.3-0.4 cm. Tree of extremely continental and cold climate. The most winter-hardy representative of the genus. It is undemanding to the soil, tolerates small, stony and alkaline soils. Poorly tolerates flooding with melt water. Grows best in well-drained, loamy, deep alluvial, moderately moist soils, especially those containing lime. Bogging tolerates better than Scots pine. The ability to give an adventitious root system during swamping is more developed than in other larches. In most cases, it grows more slowly than Siberian larch. Due to the thick bark in the lower part of the trunks, it is highly resistant to ground fires. Drought tolerant and salt tolerant. Due to the small angle of deviation of the seed scales, seeds can be stored in cones for a long time. Among other species, it stands out with bright green needles in spring, in autumn - bright, orange-yellow. The most valuable breed for garden and park construction. It is especially good in joint plantings with other types of larches, completing the range of spring and autumn colors. It goes well with various types of maples, good in rows and small groups. It is considered introduced into culture in 1827. However, it is obvious that BIN appeared in the Botanical Garden before this date; grown here to this day. It is also cultivated at the Forest Engineering Academy and at the Otradnoye scientific and experimental station. According to our data (Spasskaya, Orlova, 1993), it grows in the Lindulovskaya Grove nature reserve near St. Petersburg (Vyborgsky district, Roshchino) (near the bridge over the Roshchinka river, in the larch planting area to the right of the road). In GBS since 1938, 3 samples (19 copies) were grown from 3-year-old seedlings obtained from the Ivanteevsky nursery (Moscow region), and seeds from Khabarovsk and Yakutia. Tree, at 37 years old, height 17.8 m, trunk diameter 23/32.5 cm. Vegetation from 19.IV ± 10 to 18.Х ±7, 172 ± 8. almost annually, not always abundant, from 5.V ± 3 to 11.V ± 2 during the week, sometimes 3 days. Cones ripen in late September-October. Winter hardiness is high. Seeds have low germination. When rooting winter cuttings treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 24 hours, only callus formation was noted. Rarely found in landscaping in Moscow. Has two ecological forms; one tolerates very dry soils, the other develops well on soils with excessive moisture. Var. japonica. Form, as in the species, up to 30 m high. Boughs are horizontal; shortened shoots are very thick and powerful; young shoots are brown-red to purple, as if covered with frost. Needles in bundles (20-30 each), flat-spreading, obtuse, crescent-curved, 12-25 mm long. Cones are almost round, with 15-25 fruit scales. (= L. danurica japonica, L. kamtschatica, L. kurilensis). Sakhalin, Kuriles. Grows from sea level to 2700 m above sea level. seas in mixed stands. Rare in Germany. Resistant, the first of all larches covered with a green outfit. In GBS since 1965, 2 samples (8 copies), brought by seedlings from the area of natural distribution on the Kuril Islands, as well as from the arboretum "Trostyanets" (Ukraine). Tree, at 25 years old, height 14.8 m, trunk diameter 15.5/20.0 cm. Vegetation from 14.IV ± 8 to 15.Х ± 6, 185 ± 7 days. It grows relatively slowly, the annual growth is 12-15 cm. Seeds ripen at the end of September, there are few of them and they have a very low germination rate (9.5%). Winter hardiness is high. When winter cuttings were treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 24 hours, 5% of rooted cuttings were obtained. In the landscaping of Moscow is absent. Var. principis - rupprechtii. Wood; young shoots at the ends are bare light yellow. Needles on short shoots are flat-spreading, on elongated shoots they are sickle-shaped, wide, with a long end. Cones on a two-centimeter (!), upturned petiole, pin-shaped, 3.5-4 cm long, consist of 30-40 dense scales. Northern China, Korea. It grows in the mountains at an altitude of 1500-3000 m above sea level. seas. Resistant in Germany. In GBS since 1958, 2 samples (6 copies) were obtained by seedlings from VILR (Moscow). Tree, at 27 years old, height 18.6 m, trunk diameter 37/47 cm. Vegetation from 18.IV ± 6 to 5.XI ± 5, 178 days. It grows more slowly than other larches, the annual growth is about 10 cm. Winter hardiness is high. Seed viability is low (6-8%). Winter cuttings without treatment, they do not take root. Resistant to heat and dry air. It does not suffer from sudden fluctuations in air temperature. It is not found in the landscaping of Moscow. There are also green- and red-cone forms (f. chlogosagra and f. erythrocarpa), the latter is especially decorative in spring, when bright red cones stand out effectively against the background of delicate greenery. Two dwarf forms (f. pumila and f. prostrata). L.g. var. lubarskiiSukaczev- L. G. Lyubarsky. Tree up to 30 m tall. Far East. Grows in swamps, forms small clean stands. Protected in nature reserves. In GBS since 1972 1 sample (5 copies). Tree, at 18 years old, height 9.9 m, trunk diameter 11.5/13.5 cm. Vegetation from 19.V ± 7 to 15.X ±5, 170 ± 5 days. Doesn't dust. Winter hardiness is high. When treated with a 0.01% IMC solution, 13% of winter cuttings take root during the day. In the landscaping of Moscow is absent. L.g. var. olgensis (Henry) Ostenf.- L. G. Olginskaya. Tree up to 20-25 (30) m tall. Far East. On mountain slopes. It grows together with Mongolian oak and stone birch. Protected in nature reserves. |
| European larch - L. decidua Mill. |
 Western larch- Larix occidentalis Nutt.
Mountains of the western part of North America, between 44° and 55° N latitude, in the forest belt at an altitude of 600-2300 m, along shady slopes and river valleys, mostly in mixed plantations with Menzies pseudosuga, mountain weymouth pine, pinus pine and spruce Engelmann. A tree reaching 40-80 m in height in its homeland, the crown is narrow pyramidal. The branches are short, almost horizontal; young shoots are yellowish to orange, downy, but eventually become glabrous. Buds resinous, fringed. Needles in bundles (15-40) spaced apart, obtuse, 3-4 cm long, rounded above, keeled below, with 2 white stomatal canals on both sides; resin passages are absent. Cones on a six mm white fluffy petiole, ovoid, 2.5-3 or 5 cm long. Seed flakes (30-50 each) are almost round, whole-row, gently pubescent on the outside under the middle; cover scales long pointed, protruding, straight. Seeds are whitish with a brown wing. The tallest larch in North America. Grows fast. Winter-hardy, photophilous. It thrives on well-drained, rich and moist soils. Negatively reacts to dryness. Durable, lives up to 700 years. Decorative. Interesting as a fast growing breed, used together with other species of the genus. In Western Europe since 1880. In St. Petersburg, E.L. Wolf (1917) was the first to test it. In the Botanical Garden BIN since 1975. Both in Russia and in other countries, although it is rare, it successfully adapts to various climatic zones and natural zones, from taiga to steppe. In St. Petersburg, the ends of the shoots freeze slightly, forms normally developed cones with seeds. The tallest larch in North America, growing very fast. Photo EDSR. |
| Cajander larch - L. cajanderi Mayr
Occupies a huge range in Eastern Siberia and the Far East.
Tree up to 30 m high. and up to 1 m in diameter. In terms of its morphological features and biology, it is close to the Dahurian larch (Larix dahurica Laws.). It differs from the latter in the form and structure of mature cones. The cones are almost spherical, as if flattened from above, 0.8-2 (-2.5) cm long, 0.7-1 cm thick, while the length of the cones is always less than their thickness; seed scales are almost rounded with a cut, slightly notched edge or slightly elongated-oblong with a cut edge, very often bent inward (distinctly spoon-shaped); depart at a large angle, as a result of which the seeds in good warm sunny weather very quickly spill out and disperse. The most stable in comparison with other species in the most continental areas of permafrost. It is this species that forms forests at the Pole of Cold, in the region of Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk in Yakutia. The species was described in 1906. It is very rare in culture, apparently until 1930. In the Botanical Garden, BIN is represented by young plants from natural habitats of the Russian Far East, brought by the garden staff. Adapted to grow on more damp cold poor soils. It forms hybrid forms with Dahurian larch in places of joint growth, which have the same meaning for ornamental gardening. The use is the same as for Dahurian and Siberian larches. |
| Larch Kamchatka, or Kuril - L. kamtschatica (Rupr.) Carr. (I. kurilensis Mayr, L. dcthurica Turcz ex Trautv. var. japonica Maxim, ex Regel, L. gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. var. japonica (Maxim, ex Regel) Pilg.) Despite its name, it does not grow in Kamchatka, but is found in South Sakhalin and Southern Kuriles(Shikotan and Iturup), from sea level to the upper forest line in the mountains.
Tree up to 30 (-35) m high. and 30-40 cm in diameter, with very long horizontally spaced branches, in culture usually does not exceed medium size. The crown is broadly ovate-conical. Young shoots are reddish-brown or light brownish-yellow, with a bluish bloom, slightly or densely pubescent. Shortened shoots are rather large (8-10 mm long, 4-5 mm thick), almost cylindrical. Needles 10-15 (-40) mm long, bluish-green, mostly crescent-shaped, on shortened shoots, 20-45 in a bunch. Cones are small, ovoid, obtuse, 1.5-2.5 cm long, wide open when mature, almost spherical, with 14-26 scales in 3-4 rows. Seed scales are rounded or ovoid, rounded or truncated, with a slight notch, convex glabrous on the back. Covering scales are visible at the bottom of the cone. Seeds 3-5 mm long., with a wing 3 times larger than them. In St. Petersburg, the needles turn yellow almost at the same time as that of the Siberian larch. In its ecology, it is close to Dahurian larch. A monsoon climate plant, adapted to a cool and fairly short growing season. In the countries of Western Europe, during milder winters, it starts growing early and then is damaged when cold weather returns. Very good park tree, especially suitable for single plantings and small groups. Differs in the original shape of the crown, smaller needles with a bluish tint, pubescent shoots and small cones. It was introduced into Europe around 1888. It has been grown in the Arboretum of the St. Petersburg Forestry Academy since 1898. In the Catalogs of Nurseries of E. L. Regel and J. K. Kesselring since 1904, in the Botanical Garden of BIN until 1920, winter-hardy and regularly forms cones. |
| larch of Lyubarsky - L. x lubarskii Sukacz. (I. dahurica Laws x L. kamtschatica (Rupr.) Carr. x L. olgensis A. Henry) The range of this larch is small, mainly distributed in Northeast China. In the Russian Far East, it occurs in very small areas isolated to the west of Lake. Khanka and on the Shufan basalt plateau. It grows on mountain plateaus and low ridges, on slopes, flat surfaces and in river valleys, at an altitude of 400-1100 m. Often dominates in the first tier, growing together with Mongolian oak, Amur linden, black birch, etc., less often scattered in small clusters in pine (with burial pine) and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Described by the famous dendrologist V. N. Sukachev from the Far East (Nikolskoye forestry near the town of Nikolsk-Ussuriysky). According to N. V. Dylis, another well-known dendrologist, student of V. N. Sukachev, Lyubarsky larch is a hybrid cycle resulting from the ancient crossing of Olginskaya larch (L. olgensis) and Prince Ruprecht larch (L. principis-rupprechtii) and unites a very polymorphic group of plants, the morphological features of which are much more diverse than those originally indicated by V. N. Sukachev. The pine monograph E. G. Bobrov (1972) considers this larch to be a hybrid taxon resulting from introgressive hybridization of three species (I. gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. x L. kamtschatica (Rupr.) Carr. x L. olgensis A. Henry ). Currently, this taxon, unfortunately, is undeservedly forgotten and is not recognized by some biologists as an independent species, having only a collection value. Meanwhile, it has been grown for a long time in the park of the BIN Botanical Garden, where it is quite winter-hardy, forms cones annually and is grown from local seeds. Retains all features of an independent species. Deserves, in our opinion, further careful research in nature. IN favorable conditions reaches the size of a large tree, 20-25 m high. and 40-60 cm in diameter. The crown is cylindrical, with thick branches and dense needles. Young shoots are light yellow, almost glabrous or sparsely hairy, but sometimes densely hairy. Needles 20-30 (-35) mm long, straight, green, collected on brachyblasts in bunches of 30-40. The cones are rather large (1.5-3 cm long, 2-2.5 cm thick), oblong-ovate with a large number of scales (20-45), rather dense and woody. Scales b. m. rounded or broadly ovate, straight or spoon-shaped, with rounded, shallowly notched or unevenly cut, sometimes slightly bent outward top edge, often pubescent with reddish hairs along the back. Covering scales inconspicuous, dark brown, noticeable only near the base of the cone, reaching here about 1/2 the length of the seed scale. |
| Larch Margilinda - Larix marschlinsii Coaz, 1917 (x L. eurolepis A. Henry, 1919) It grows in the Far East, on the eastern macroslope of the Sikhote-Alin mountains (Southern Primorye, from Valentin Bay to Vladimir Bay). Outside of Russia on the peninsula of Korea ( Northern part, in areas adjacent to the Sea of Japan) and in the Jilin Province of Northeast China. However, there are already other varieties. In nature, it is a rare species. Tree up to 25 (-30) m high. and 70-80 (-150) cm in diameter, rarely straight-barreled. The bark of the trunk is dark gray-brown, powerful in old trees. Young shoots are light brown or beige-pink, densely pubescent with stiff red hairs. Needles are stiffer than those of Siberian and Dahurian larches, long, up to 35 (-40) mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, green above, gray below. Cones obtusely ovoid, 1.8-2.5 cm long, 1.2-1.5 (-2) cm thick, wide open, consist of 25-30 scales arranged in 5-6 rows. Seed scales with a rounded edge, spoon-shaped, curved, entire, sparsely hairy along the back, the scales of young cones are quite densely covered with red long hairs. Not demanding on soil moisture. Photophilous. Wind resistant. Mature trees form a thick bark (up to 20 cm thick), which protects them from fires and allows them to grow in a zone of higher heat supply. Described in 1915, but in culture recently and rarely found. In St. Petersburg, in the Arboretum of the Forestry Engineering Academy since 1934. In the Botanical Garden, BIN is represented by young plants, the seeds were brought in 1997 from an expedition to the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, from the place where the species was described. It is also in the collection of the scientific experimental station "Otradnoye". It is promising for all types of plantings, like other larches, in lighted places, on soils from wet to relatively dry. Can be successfully cultivated for commercial timber. |
 Larch Potanin - Larix potaninii Batalin= L. chinensis, L. thibetica. Shenxi Province, Western China. It grows in the mountains at an altitude of 2500-4000 m above sea level. sea, in the subalpine zone forms pure stands. Tree height from 7 to 30 m; branches are short enough; the bark is grey-brown. Branches hanging vertically; young shoots are orange-brown, slightly pubescent, but soon bare. Terminal cones, resinous. The needles are keeled, on both sides they have 1-2 rows of stomatal canals, 2-3 cm long, light green, at first reddish, protruding, with a long end, purple. The seeds are small. Winter-hardy breed, late frosts are dangerous. One of the most beautiful species of larch. In Germany, only some attempts are made to introduce into the culture (Gragrat). In GBS since 1984, 1 sample (2 copies) from Eberswald (Germany). Tree, at 7 years old, height 3.0 m, trunk diameter 2.5/3.5 cm. Vegetation from 18.IV ± 8 to 23.Х ±7, 162 ± 8 days. It dusts annually, not always abundantly, from 20.IV ± 4. Seeds ripen at the end of October. Winter hardiness is high. Winter cuttings without processing do not take root. In the landscaping of Moscow is absent. |
| seaside larch - L. x maritime Sukacz. (L. dahurica Laws x L. kamtschatica (Rupr.) Carr.) Close to Dahurian larch and, along with Lyubarsky larch, also a species little studied in nature. It was described by V.N. Sukachev in 1931 simultaneously with L. lubarskii, based on the Far Eastern collections of I.K. Shishkin on the coast of the Tatar Strait, in the valley of the river. Botchi, near the bay and the village of Grossevich. Later, this species was also found in two more points of the Tatar Strait - in the valley of the river. Koppi, a little north of Grossevich Bay, and on Cape Naleo at the mouth of the river. Amur. According to E. G. Bobrov (1972), this species arose as a result of introgressive hybridization of Dahurian larch and l. Kamchatka ((L. dahurica Laws, x L kamtschatica (Rupr.) Carr.). A tree of the first or second magnitude, in favorable conditions reaches 20-25 m in height. In young trees, the crown is pyramidal, with horizontally spaced branches, and the bark is smooth, reddish-brown. Young shoots are reddish or intense pink, often with a bluish bloom, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Needles 25-35 mm long., About 1 mm wide., Dark green above, with a well-developed keel, bluish on the underside. Cones (1.5-) 2-3 cm long, oblong-ovate or ovoid, medium opening, the angle of deviation of the scales from the axis of the cone is 40-50 °. Scales in the amount of 25-40 (-50), straight, b. m. flat, ovoid or broadly ovate, rounded along the upper edge, truncated or broadly notched, entire or finely serrated, dark brown or brown with a reddish tint. Scales of young cones with a bluish waxy coating, finely striated, glabrous and shiny. Covering scales are clearly visible, rather long (about 2/3 of the length of the seed scales), and at the base of the cone they are almost equal in length to the seed scales, dark brown, with a long peak. Seeds 4 mm long, brown, with a reddish wing about twice their length. Seaside larch seeds, delivered from the coast of the Tatar Strait by B.K. Shishkin, were planted in the nursery of the Forestry Institute in Leningrad, and then the seedlings were transplanted to the Arboretum of the Forestry Engineering Academy, where they are cultivated to the present. There are good fruit-bearing trees both in the park of the academy and in the upper Dendro garden. At the same time, they retain all the indicated features characteristic of the species. We believe that this taxon also deserves further research. In GBS since 1940, 3 samples (11 copies) were obtained from the Far East. Tree, at 37 years old, height 15.5 m, trunk diameter 22.5/29.5 cm. Vegetation from 24.IV ± 6 to 3.XI ± 7, 182 ± 4 days. It grows quickly, the annual growth is up to 40 cm. The winter hardiness is high. When processing winter cuttings with a 0.01% solution of IMC during the day, 5% of rooted cuttings were obtained. In the landscaping of Moscow is absent. |
Tree up to 30-45 m high. and 80-100 (-180) cm in diameter. The bark of annual shoots is straw-colored, glabrous, sometimes with sparse hairs. On older trunks it is gray-brown, on old trees it is very thick, deeply furrowed. Apical buds are wide-conical, lateral hemispherical, yellowish-brown. Needles 13-45 mm long., Light green, with a bluish bloom (especially in early summer), on shortened shoots in bunches of 25-65 pcs. In autumn in St. Petersburg it turns yellow and falls off earlier than many other larches. Cones 2.2-3 cm long, 1.8-2.3 cm thick, ovate or oblong-oval. Tightly closed before maturation, wide open when mature, light brown or light yellow, with 22-38 scales in 5-7 rows. Seed scales 6-14 mm wide, b. m straight or indistinctly spoon-shaped, ovate, thin, often leathery and soft, entire, densely pubescent along the back with reddish hairs, especially at their base. The covering scales are very small (up to 1/4 of the seed height) and are visible only at the base of the cones. Seeds 2-5 mm long, obliquely obovate, yellowish with dark speckles, seed wing 3-5 mm wide and 9-14 mm long. Seeds ripen in September and fall within 15-35 days.
It is durable, frost-resistant, photophilous, wind-resistant, undemanding to soil and air moisture. It develops quickly on a wide variety of soil types, but prefers deep, lime-containing soils. When waterlogged, it forms adventitious roots. dormant buds in in large numbers persist even on thick trunks.
It tolerates urban conditions better than other species of the genus, more drought-resistant than others, resistant to pests and diseases. Propagated by seeds. The most valuable breed for group, alley and single plantings. It is very good in combination with birches, mountain ash, maples, linden, spruce, fir, Siberian cedar, junipers, rhododendrons. The needles fall off earlier than that of European larch, which reduces the decorative qualities.
Known in culture since 1806. It is considered introduced into world culture by the BIN Botanical Garden. In the cities of the North-West of Russia, it is grown much more often than other types of larch and in some places is included in the leading assortment. In the Botanical Garden, BIN is also the most common type of larch; in the regular part of the park, it frames the alleys planted in the 1820s. So far, preserved individual trees, 28-33 m high, up to 100 cm in trunk diameter and up to 200 years old. No less widely - in plantings in the collection of the Arboretum and the park of the Forestry Academy. It is also grown at the scientific and experimental station "Otradnoye".
In GBS since 1937, 5 samples (133 copies) were grown from seeds obtained from Krasnoyarsk, St. Petersburg, Gorno-Altaisk, Moscow region. Tree, at 29 years old, height 20.6 m, trunk diameter 37/50 cm. Vegetation from 15.IV ± 7 to 27.X ± 6 for 185 ± 5 days. Grows rapidly, annual growth 27 cm. ± 3. Seeds ripen at the end of September. Winter hardiness is high. Seed germination up to 20%. Winter cuttings without processing do not take root. It is found in the gardening of Moscow.
Siberian larch has a number of geographical races and ecological types, as well as numerous forms: by the color of young cones, needles and growth patterns. For landscape gardening construction, the last feature is important. The most interesting forms on this basis are as follows: compact(f. compacta) - with a dense, densely branched crown; blunted(f. decuminata) - with a cylindrical crown and a blunt top; pyramidal(f. fastigiata); weeping(f. pendula).
Photos EDSR.
| Chekanovsky larch - L. x czekanowskii Szafer (L. sibirica Ledeb. x L. dahurica Laws.) It is a complex of hybrid forms that has developed as a result of the hybridization of Siberian and Dahurian larches, according to other sources, a hybrid. At present, it is an established hybridogenic species that occupies a vast territory of Central Siberia, extending in a wide strip, in some places up to 500-700 km, from Lake. Pyasino and Khatangi in the south of Taimyr to the Chita region in Eastern Transbaikalia. Shows mixed features of both original species, but most often occurs in two variants: 1) the predominance of signs of Siberian larch - young cones are elongated-elliptical, reddish-brown. Their scales with a cut upper edge or rounded, elongated ovoid, glabrous or slightly pubescent with short hairs, usually in 4-5 rows. Older cones 2-2.6 (-3) cm long, 1.5-2 cm thick, ovoid, grey, rounded scales, slightly indented or serrated; 2) the predominance of signs of Dahurian larch - young and old cones are rather small (up to 1 cm long), elongated or almost spherical. Scales elongated or almost rounded, with a cut off upper edge, glabrous, in 3-4 rows. If we assume that the tree in the 14th section of the park-arboretum is about 175 years old, then the Chekanovsky larch appeared in the BIN Botanical Garden around 1830. Obviously, it was first introduced into culture here, although it became known as an independent taxon much later, from 1913 It is also grown at the Forestry Academy. In St. Petersburg it is stable and reaches a height of 20-25 m, the use is the same as the parental species. In GBS since 1953, 2 samples (36 copies) from the Baikal region and reproductions of GBS. Tree, at 37 years old, height 22.2 m, trunk diameter 50/69.5 cm. Vegetation from 14.IV ± 7 to 5.X ± 6, duration 172 ± 6 days. Annual growth 22 cm. Dusty from 12 years old, not abundant, annually, from 8.V ± 4. Seeds ripen in early October. Winter hardiness is high. Summer cuttings do not root when treated with a 0.08% phyton solution for 16 hours. It is not found in the landscaping of Moscow. |
 Japanese larch, or fine-scaly, or Kaempfer- Larix leptolepis Gonf. = Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carriere
It grows on the sunny dry slopes of the mountains of the island of Honshu (Japan). It grows in the mountains at an altitude of 1600-2700 m above sea level. seas. Forms pure and mixed forest stands. Beautiful, fast-growing tree up to 35 m tall. Long, thick, almost horizontal branches form a peculiar, wide-pyramidal crown. For the most part, the multi-vertex trunk is covered with relatively thin, reddish-brown bark. Young shoots are reddish with a bluish bloom. The bark of the branches is gray, the buds are shiny, dark brown. The needles are long, up to 5 cm long, blue-green. Cones in youth - yellowish-green, spherical (2-3 cm) with thin, leathery scales, bent at the top like rose petals, remain on the branches for up to 3 years. Seed scales numerous, thin, rosette-shaped, rounded. The seeds are small, light brown, with a dark brown wing. The needles are painted in autumn in bright yellow tones much later than other species, creating bright spots in plantings within a month.
In a decorative sense, this species surpasses all others both in its unusual storey crown, and in the long needles of the original color, in the form of cones. It goes well with spruces, pines, junipers, lindens, oaks, ash trees, rhododendrons and other ornamental shrubs. The speed of growth, undemanding to soil conditions and frost resistance allow this species to be widely used in green building in group and single plantings and landscape compositions. In Japan, it is widely cultivated in the form of bonsai - as an indoor bonsai grown in peat. At home in culture for a very long time. In Europe since 1861, very often in gardens, parks and forest plantations, grows successfully almost everywhere. In the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden since 1863, thanks to the seeds brought by K. I. Maksimovich. It also grows in the collections of the Forestry Academy and the Otradnoye scientific and experimental station. In the south of Sakhalin Island, it is widely grown on forest plantations and used in landscaping, forming hybrids with local Kamchatka larch (L. kamtschatica). In GBS since 1953, 6 samples (49 copies) were grown from seeds obtained from South Sakhalin, from Lvov, Yekaterinburg, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Gothenburg (Sweden). Tree, at 36 years old, height 21.6 m, trunk diameter 39.0/51.5 cm. Vegetation from 21.IV ± 7 to 8.X ± 10, duration 171 ± 8 days. Annual growth 15-18 cm. Dust from 6.V ± 3 to 12.V ± 3 during the week, in hot weather 3-4 days. Seed production from 9 years old, less often 14 years old, annual, plentiful, seeds ripen in September. Winter hardiness is high. When rooting winter cuttings without treatment, only the formation of callus was noted. In the landscaping of Moscow is found infrequently Japanese larch cultivars: "aureovariegata" ("Aureovariegata")- needles with yellow spots unevenly distributed on the plant. The form was isolated in 1899 in Holland, in the nursery of B.V. Dirken (Oudenbosch).
"Blue Rabbit" ("Blue Rabbit")- narrow conical crown, bluish needles, beautiful. Grows fast. Received in 1960 in the nursery of L. Konyan Reyvyuk (France). "Berwaz" ("Vervaes"). The branches hang beautifully on the trunk, the ends are dangling. 1906, Dervaes, Belgium. "Diana" ("Diana"). Tree 8 - 10 m high, crown diameter 3 - 5 m. Branches slightly twisted in a spiral. Bark reddish-brown, fissured. The needles are needle-shaped, tender, green, in autumn - golden yellow. Annual growth in height 25 cm, width 15 cm. young age grows slowly, then faster. Photophilous. Demanding on soils. grows best on well-drained, fertile sandy loam and loam, does not tolerate stagnant moisture and drought. Hardy, but may suffer from late spring frosts. Application: single landings, groups, alleys. "Nana" ("Nana")- dwarf form, the crown is very thick, conical, annual growth of 5 cm. The needles are bluish-red. Found in 1976 by the botanist H. Neumann among "witch's brooms" and propagated in the nursery of Eddloha in Germany.
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Usually it does not suffer from frost, the shoots become completely woody. Quite demanding on soil conditions, prefers clay and loamy soils, photophilous, demanding on air humidity, develops well in the city. It tolerates shading better than other larches. Reaches a reproductive state in 15-20 years.
Larix kaempferi "Blue Ball"
Larix kaempferi"Blue Dwarf" From other types:
| Larix eurolepisA.Henry -
L. broadscale fast growing tree, appearance similar to L. lertolepis, but somewhat narrower. The branches are raised at the ends; the branches are yellow, bare or slightly downy, as if a little covered with hoarfrost, almost without resin. Needles up to 3.6 cm long, bluish-green, on the underside with stomatal tubules. Cones pin-shaped, petiole yellow. Seed scales on the edge are slightly bent back. Around 1900, Dunkeld, Scotland. Differs from L. decidua in wider bluish needles, slightly fluffy shoots, slightly recurved seed scales; it differs from L. kaempferi in yellow, less frosted shoots, short needles, fewer stomatal canals on the underside, and slightly protruding covering scales. In GBS since 1960, 2 samples (13 copies), seedlings from the Moscow region. At 30 years old, height 20 m, trunk diameter 20/27 cm. Vegetation from 15.IV ± 7 to 18.IX ± 6 for 186 ± 5 days. Annual growth 26 cm. Dust annually, not abundant, from 24.IV ± 4. Seeds ripen in mid-September. Winter hardiness is high. Winter cuttings without treatment with stimulants do not take root. Deserves extensive testing. |
| Larix lyalii. Mountain regions in western North America. Tree height 13 - 15 (25 m) with a pyramidal crown. The branches are long, distant from each other and arranged horizontally, often hanging down like a willow; young shoots are powerful, gray or brownish; shortened shoots up to 2 cm long with very short round scales with an uneven edge. Needles in bundles (40 - 50) directly spaced from each other, 2.5 - 3.5 cm long, bluish-green, obtuse, keeled on both sides. Cones almost sessile, 3 - 4.5 cm long, with numerous seed scales, almost round, fluffy; when ripe, they splay and scatter. Covering scales are straight; seeds are small, with a pink wing. In Germany, they have not yet taken root, they are quite stable, but they grow poorly. |
Location: extremely light-loving.
Larches, like pines, need the relationship of roots with fungi - mycorrhiza. Most suitable for the formation of such mycorrhiza, some races oil, boletus and porcini mushrooms, so watering a young larch with water after washing the mushrooms collected in the forest will be a very good help (in the most literal sense - we will put mushroom spores on it!). You can also dig in trunk circle old, wormy mushrooms with obviously mature spores.
Landing: plant larches on permanent place should be as soon as possible optimal time- at 1-2 years of age.
Larix ochotensis
Photo Kravchenko Kirill
However, this age is unacceptable for landscaping work, therefore 6-year-old plants are planted in soft containers, at an older age - always in a rigid container or with a frozen lump. Best time planting - autumn after leaf fall or early spring before bud break. The distance between plants is 2 - 4 m, the places are open, sunny, only Japanese larch makes shading. Larches easily tolerate transplantation up to 20 years of age. The root system is deep and provides full wind resistance. On young thin roots there is mycorrhiza, which is important not to damage when planting. Planting depth 70 - 80 cm. Undemanding to soils, grows successfully on calcareous, podzolic soils, chernozems, better - on loams, poorly - on sands. The soil mixture consists of leafy soil, peat and sand (3:2:1). Drainage only on heavy clays: broken brick layer 20 cm.
Care: in early spring, before the shoots begin to grow, 100 - 120 g "Kemira" / m 2 are applied. It suffers from summer drought. At this time, 15 - 20 liters are watered for each tree 1-2 times a week. Loosening is carried out only with iodine by young plantings depth of 20 cm, removal of weeds is obligatory.Mulching - after planting with peat or sawdust with a layer of 5 - b m.Tolerate moderate shearing only at a young age.Adult plants do not cover, young trees of Japanese larch for the first 1-2 years after planting from spring frosts cover craft -paper.
Larix principis-rupprechtii
Photograph by Kirill Tkachenko
If the height of an already grafted weeping larch plant seems insufficient to you, then, as with other strongly weeping forms of trees, it can be increased by “cunning”. To do this, the most powerful of the drooping shoots in the spring must be straightened up, tied to a support peg. After a couple of years, this procedure can be repeated with shoots already hanging from the new "crown", and the result is an unusually decorative column of long drooping branches growing along the entire length of the new trunk.
Diseases and pests: larch mining moth. The needles become white and flabby. Damaged shoots should be removed, in case of severe damage, treat with a solution of any insecticidal preparation made on the basis of mineral oils.
Also a group of insects related to aphids called coniferous insects. It is not difficult to recognize the worms - they “wear” white fibrous shields on their backs that protect them from predators. You can also find these pests on firs and spruces. In some dry years, when the rain does not knock the worms to the ground, they multiply in such numbers that the branches seem to be covered with frost. With such a strong defeat, insecticides should be resorted to.
Larix speciosa
Photograph by Kirill Tkachenko
In spring, in April, larches are often affected by hermes - a species of aphids that "specialize" in feeding on coniferous sap. In places where it accumulates, the needles bend and turn yellow. Caterpillars of the larch spider leafworm are recognized by their dense cocoons. Striped larch sawfly damages needles. To combat these pests, trees are sprayed with fozalon or chlorophos.
Caterpillars of the larch sheath bearer eat the needles in spring. In this case, spraying with horn (dimethoate or BI-58) and chlorophos in late April-May helps. And again in June, in the season of the departure of butterflies from cocoons.
Against bark beetles, beetles and barbels, trunks, crowns and tree trunks are treated with decis or karbofos. Do this in the spring, before the appearance of pests after wintering.
Shutte fungus infects larch when high humidity air. In May-June, red-brown spots appear on the needles, then it turns yellow and falls off. To prevent this from happening, in July-September, the trees are sprayed with cineb, 2% colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux liquid.
Shoots of large larches (European, Siberian, Western and Japanese) that have just begun to grow can be damaged by late spring frosts, but the trees recover in the same summer. The more graceful Dahurian, Olginskaya and American larches do not suffer from frost at all.
Reproduction: seeds, because cuttings take root very poorly. Grafting is advisable only for the reproduction of especially valuable species and decorative forms.
The main method of reproduction of species larch is sowing seeds. To do this, at the end of autumn, they collect the cones of the current year and put them in a warm, dry place, where they open and release the seeds. It is better to sow before winter in boxes with light soil, where young plants will then spend a year or two before spring transplant to school. According to our observations, larch seeds germinate rather poorly, and therefore it is better to sow densely. Pre-sowing preparation is not necessary (but cold stratification increases germination)
In spring, the boxes are placed in a sunny spot and watered regularly. Seedlings planted in time grow rapidly and in the fourth or fifth year of life reach a height of a meter and even one and a half. And from the age of nine or ten, on rich soil, young plants can begin to bear fruit.
Varieties are propagated by spring grafting on seedlings, but grafting conifers is a mysterious process, its success (unless, of course, it happens in industrial nursery greenhouses) depends on a combination of so many climatic factors that it will be much more reliable for ordinary lovers to purchase a ready-made seedling of a cultivar they like.
Usage: widely used in landscaping. They look good in alley and small-group plantings in squares and parks, when creating large arrays, in pure and mixed groups. In mixed groups of different types of larch, the color scheme of needles in spring and summer includes all shades of green: from pale green in western larch to gray and gray-green in Japanese larch and European larch. IN autumn period the color of the needles is mainly golden yellow, which is lost along with the needles in different dates. In Gmelin larch and Siberian larch, the coniferous fall ends in the second half of October, Siberian larch and American larch shed their golden dress only in November.
From any larch, in addition, you can make a very spectacular dominant plant for a container mini-rock garden. This application is greatly facilitated by the frost resistance of these trees, combined with the ability to tolerate sharp fluctuations in soil temperature (and this, in our climate, is the main reason for the narrow range of plants used in such compositions). In order for a kind of bonsai to flaunt in a stone trough, it would be best to dwarf varieties, but, we repeat, they practically do not happen on a wide sale. But even here you can go to the trick. You just need to choose a young seedling with a small increase in height and a dense crown. After planting in a mini rock garden, such a plant, of course, is never fertilized. As a result, the growth of larch is greatly slowed down and it really becomes like bonsai. If the shoots grow stronger than necessary, they can be cut slightly. It is best to do this, as with fruit trees, in the spring. To make the crown of such a “dwarf” thicker, pinching can be done in June-July.
And in the usual medium-sized rock gardens, “creeping” larches look very exotic, which are nothing more than a weeping form grafted onto a very low trunk.
Partners: complex groups of larches and rhododendrons, mock oranges, lilacs, brooms are very good. It goes well with shrubs and trees, in which the leaves turn red in autumn.
materials used:
articles by S. Kuptsov "A real Russian tree" // "Garden and garden" -2-2006
books by Firsov G.A., Orlova L.V. "Conifers in St. Petersburg". - St. Petersburg: LLC "Publishing House" Rostok ", 2008. - 336 p.
Articles by M. Alexandrov "Listless" // "Gardener" - 2009 - No. 3
A. Sapelin "Place of larch in the garden" // "Gardener" - 2009 - No. 3
The peculiarity of the seasonal behavior of larches - their shedding of needles for the winter immediately distinguishes them from other main conifers, since this feature is absent in other genera of conifers.
The leaves (needles) of larches are soft, flat, with whitish rows of stomata visible from below.
On elongated shoots, the leaves are arranged spirally, on short ones - in bunches, 20-40 needles in each. Cones are small (1-10 cm), round or cylindrical, sitting at the ends of shortened shoots. Young cones are green or reddish, mature - brown. They ripen in the same year in autumn or early next spring. Opening and releasing the seeds, they remain on the tree for several more years. Seeds are small (3-6 mm), yellowish-brown, with a wing. In the second, less often - in the third year, they lose their germination.
Larch is a fast-growing, unpretentious to soil, gas-resistant, durable plant. Feels good even along the roads. The roots go deep into the soil. Photophilous. Grows well in alkaline soils. Larch is frost-resistant, and without any problems can be used in decorative gardening throughout Ukraine.
Propagated by seeds. Grafting is used only when propagating decorative forms. Transplantation in adulthood tolerates up to 20 years of age, preferably with a frozen clod of earth. It is not demanding on soils, but when planting it is advisable to add complex fertilizer to the pit.
The color range of needles, depending on the species, includes all shades of green in the spring-summer season. In autumn, the needles acquire a golden yellow hue; it is reset depending on the species at different times. Siberian larch, for example, sheds it only in November.
Basically, in nature, larch grows within three areas - in temperate and cold regions of Europe, Asia and North America.
Larch species and varieties, photo description by growth and preference:
Larix decidua (European larch)
Deciduous tall, slender, conifer tree, the species is widespread in nature and is actively used in decorative landscaping in Europe, which is called the European larch.
Tall tree with a regular, mostly narrow-conical crown and a straight trunk, branches are horizontal or raised, relatively thin, fast growing, side shoots drooping. The tree is very tall, the annual growth is 40-50 cm in height, 25-30 cm in width, at the age of 30 years it reaches 15 m in height. The size of an adult plant is from 25 to 45 m high, and from 8 to 20 m wide. The needles are needle-shaped, collected in bunches of 3-40 pieces, 10-30 cm long, delicate, light green, late autumn color, bright yellow or golden yellow. female flowers ovate, 1-1.5 cm long, upright, pink-purple, male cylindrical or ovate, 0.5-1 cm long, lilac-yellow, very decorative, blooms in April. Cones are brown ovoid, 2.5-4 cm long with 40-50 scaly seeds, the edges are not bent outward, unlike Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch). The root system is deep, taproot, superficial on clay and damp soils. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. Prefers the rich nutrients fresh or moist soils, undemanding to soil acidity, for optimal crown development, needs a lot of space, likes places with air movement, tolerates low air humidity. It tolerates periods of drought well thanks to its deep root system, which makes it also very wind resistant. In nature, it grows on nutrient-rich, fresh, drained and well-aerated soils, both on calcareous and primary rocks in high-altitude and subalpine zones of coniferous forests, where it rises up to 24,000 m above sea level, usually in a community with Pinus cembra (pine European cedar). There are many tannins in the bark, the wood is heavy and durable, elastic. It is the strongest and most durable coniferous wood in Central Europe, extremely resistant to moisture, used for underwater construction, the wood is as valuable as oak.
Widely used for landscaping cities and industrial areas. Planted as a hedge, young plants tolerate shearing and shaping well. Planting step: 0.5-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 3
Larix decidua (European larch) "Horstmann Recurved" 
A small tree with an irregular, very original crown. The annual growth is about 40 cm. After 10 years, it reaches about 2 m in height. The branches grow unevenly from the trunk, light brown, dense, serpentine twisted and bifurcate at the ends, beautiful in a non-coniferous state. The needles are tender, soft, falling off, appear early in spring, turn yellow in autumn, and the color change of the needles occurs gradually, starting from the very tips of the shoots. And only in late autumn the entire crown takes on a seasonal color. Photophilous. Very cold hardy. The variety is undemanding to soils, needs moderately moist soil. For landing on specific places. Hardiness zone 4
Larix decidua (European larch) "Kornik" 
A dwarf shrub with a spherical crown, usually grown in a standard form, in this case it looks like a small tree with a crown. After 10 years reaches up to 1 m in diameter. Shoots are short with numerous buds covered with resin. Falling needles, reaches 3 cm in length, green color. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. Needs fertile, moderately moist soil. The variety is recommended for small gardens, single plantings and plant compositions. Hardiness zone 4
Larix decidua (European larch) "Little Bogle" 
Slow growing shrub with an irregular pyramidal crown. After 10 years, it reaches about 1.2-1.6 m in height. The branches are slightly tortuous. Annual gains are short. The branches are strongly thickened, rusty-brown, beautiful in a needleless state. The needles are falling, bright green, effectively turning yellow in autumn. Prefers fertile, moderately moist soils. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. Recommended for small areas, large rock gardens. Hardiness zone 4
Larix decidua (European larch) "Pendula" 
This attractive, highly weeping form was found in nature almost 200 years ago, and immediately became popular in culture. Often a fast growing tree, irregular in shape, with a tendency to number of storeys. Fast-growing, in 30 years it reaches up to 8-10 m in height. Prefers fertile, moderately moist soils. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. Recommended for large areas, large rock gardens. The natural weeping form of L. decidua "Pendula" reaches gigantic sizes up to 25-30 m in height, which limits its use in decorative gardening in small gardens. Mostly under this name, creeping varieties are sold, grafted onto a bollard in the form of a bonsai with hanging shoots, this made it possible to obtain specimens of various sizes for decorating small private gardens. Similar varieties: Larix decidua "Puli" and "Repens". Hardiness zone 4
Larix decidua (European larch) "Puli" 
A creeping variety originally from Hungary, grafted onto a trunk, forms a beautiful compact tree with strongly weeping shoots. The height of the tree depends on the height of the trunk. Falling needles, grassy-green, appear early in spring, bluish-green on young shoots. Grows best in rich, moderately moist soil. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. A very beautiful accent for all types of gardens. Hardiness zone 4
Larix decidua (European larch) "Repens" 
Larch variety with creeping shoots, usually grown as a standard form. The height of the tree depends on the height of the graft, usually 1-1.5 m. The shoots are long, flexible, slightly branched, the needles are falling, green, densely covering the shoots. Very cold hardy. Photophilous. Needs fertile and moist soil. Recommended for small, Japanese gardens and container growing. Hardiness zone 4
Larix kaempferi - Larix leptolepis (Japanese or fine-scaled larch)
A large fast growing tree from Japan with a wide, pyramidal crown. The annual growth is about 50 cm in height, about 25 cm in width. After 30 years, it reaches about 25 m in height and 10-15 in width. The crown is light, transparent with an expressive trunk and horizontally spread branches. Young shoots are red-brown, often with a waxy coating, gray-brown with age. Falling needles, soft bluish-green, 25-30 mm long., late autumn golden yellow. Female flowers are ovate, yellowish, scales with a purple edge, male cylindrical or ovate, small, yellowish. The cones are at first ovate-round, about 2-3 cm long, later, due to strongly bent, beautifully twisted scales, take a reticulate shape, stay on the tree for up to 3 years. The roots are deep. Photophilous. Frost resistance is high. Needs fresh or moist, fertile soils, with sufficient moisture, grows on acidic soils, avoids stagnant water, needs a lot of summer rainfall and high humidity during the growing season, does not tolerate dryness, grows well on the coasts. In Japan, it grows on volcanic mountain slopes, in cool and dry winter mountain forests at an altitude of 1200-2000 m above sea level. It is recommended for industrial and urban landscaping, surpasses other types of larch in terms of resistance to the urban environment, is not affected by larch cancer, and suffers from late frosts. Very good for tall hedges, cuts well. Planting step: 0.8-1 m. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Blue Dwarf" 
Dwarf shrub, very slow growing, with a hemispherical dense crown. It grows slowly, the annual growth is 5-7 cm, no more. At the age of 10 years it reaches about 0.5 m in diameter, the height of an adult plant does not exceed 70-80 cm. It is usually grown in standard form, looks like a small tree. The branches are short, strongly branched, some intertwined. Falling needles, very dense, delicate bluish-green. Frost resistance is high. Photophilous. Needs fertile and moderately moist soil. Recommended for rocky and heather gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Diana" 
Slow-growing low tree, its height rarely exceeds 5-7 m, and the diameter of the crown is about 3 m, with characteristic long branches slightly twisted in a spiral. At the age of 10 years, it most often reaches only 2 m in height. Old plants look like small trees with hemispherical crowns. Usually grown on stems. The height depends on the place of inoculation. The needles are needle-shaped, tender, blue-green. Frost resistance is high. Photophilous, needs fertile and moist soils. Recommended for small Japanese gardens, especially attractive in winter. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Jakobsen" s Pyramid " 
An interesting variety with a narrow pyramidal shape crowns. After 10 years, it reaches 3 m in height with a diameter of 1 m in width. The branches are directed upwards with age, thick, falling needles, bluish-green, yellow in autumn. Frost resistance is high, photophilous, grows better on fertile, moderately moist soil. Recommended for small gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Pendula" 
A very picturesque weeping form of Japanese larch. Slow-growing, irregularly conical tree, annual growth does not exceed 8-10 cm. The size of an adult plant is about 7 m. Height, and 3 m. Crown diameter, old specimens are found up to 10 m. Height. Branches hanging down, long, with some side branches. The falling needles are bluish-green, beautifully painted yellow in the canopy, evenly covers the shoot. Frost resistance is high, photophilous, needs moderately moist nutrient soils. Usually planted as specimens in large gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Stiif Weeper" 
A variety with shoots creeping along the ground, most often grown on standard forms. The height depends on the place of inoculation, usually up to 1.5 m., with such a stem height, long weakly branching shoots creep along the ground, one of the most beautiful modern varieties of Japanese larch. The shoots are relatively thick, covered with delicate, soft, blue-colored needles with a green tint. Frost resistance is high, photophilous, prefers moderately moist fertile soils. Recommended for planting in small gardens, Japanese gardens and containers. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) "Wolterdingen" 
Dwarf variety, very dense, domed, slow-growing, at the age of 10 reaches up to 0.5 m in height, with a similar diameter. The needles are bluish-green, yellow in autumn, falling off. Shoots are short, radially arranged. Needs moist and fertile soils. Frost resistance is high, photophilous. For alpine slides and heather gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Larches are fast-growing wind-resistant plants that can be used to create parks, recreation areas, landscaping cities and industrial areas. Since larch is a deciduous plant, it sheds along with the needles the plaque that has settled on it during the season, which distinguishes it from evergreen conifers. They are good both in the same type of group plantings, and in single alleys. It has a number of interesting low forms, for the design of small areas. It tolerates shearing and shaping well, shaping is desirable at an early age. Planting larches is best done in autumn or early spring. Seedlings are watered 1-2 times a week.
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Larch, despite its name, is coniferous plant from the pine family. Her only needles fall for the winter, so you can’t call her evergreen. Only larch seedlings retain their needles throughout the year. This suggests that the ability to drop needles was acquired by the plant as a result of adaptation to changing climate conditions.
In what natural area does larch grow?
The question of where and in what forests larch grows in nature can be generally answered as follows: she loves forests mixed type located in Western and Northern Europe up to. In general, there are many varieties of trees, the range of which varies slightly.
Where larch grows in Russia: most often it can be found in Siberia and the Far East. The plant is demanding on lighting. It does not grow in shady areas.
What soils does larch grow on: the tree is completely undemanding to the soil. It can be found both in swamps and on dry soils and even in permafrost conditions. However, the best soil for larch is sufficiently moist and well-drained.
Differences between larch and pine
First of all, larch sheds its needles for the winter, but pine does not. Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree that changes the shade of needles in different times of the year.
In larch, the needles are soft and not long - up to 4.5 cm. It is located spirally on the shoots in bunches of 20-40 needles. At the same time, her needles do not prick at all. Pine needles reach 5 cm, located along the entire trunk in bunches of 2 pieces.
The larch has a more powerful trunk, sometimes it reaches 1.8 m in diameter. Yes, and it lives twice as long as a pine. Her crown is more transparent, while that of a pine is thicker and more fluffy.
Cones on larch are very beautiful, rounded. In pine they are cone-shaped.
Dendrologists divide all woody plant species into two large groups: deciduous and coniferous trees. And, as a rule, it is very simple to attribute one or another species to one of these groups. An exception to this rule is only larch. This is deciduous or Let's try to understand this issue.
Larch: coniferous or
Lárix - this is the name of this wonderful tree in Latin. Why do many people have a question: "Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree?" And what is the right way to answer it?
The thing is that although this tree has needles, for the winter it sheds its needles, just as representatives do. hardwood. This is the moment that drives many people into a dead end. And not everyone can confidently answer the question "larch is a deciduous or coniferous tree."
In fact, this beauty of botany belongs to the pine family, and thus it is a coniferous species. And one of the most common on the planet.
Larch: botanical description of the plant
So, we found out that larch is a coniferous tree. The features of this plant, as well as its distribution throughout the Earth, we will consider below.
The average height of this tree is no more than 50 meters (with a trunk diameter of no more than 1 meter). Larches live on average up to 300 years, although individual specimens have been recorded that have lived up to 800 years.
The peculiarity of this plant is a conical (like many conifers), but a very loose (translucent) crown. In those places where the wind rose is unidirectional, the crown may have a flag-like shape.
The main feature of this softwood- this is her needles. It is annual and very soft, as for a coniferous tree. Touching larch needles is quite pleasant. Every autumn, the tree sheds its needles, and in spring new, fresh, green needles grow on its branches.
Larches are quite developed and powerful, which allows them to settle on steep mountain slopes, where strong winds blow throughout the year. In some cases, for greater stability, even its lower branches take root in the ground.
Larch is a very photophilous tree, therefore, it chooses appropriate areas for itself: open and unshaded. If the growing conditions are favorable, then the plant is able to reach for the sun at an amazing speed: up to one meter per year!
Larch is very resistant to low air temperatures. She is not afraid of sharp frosts. Undemanding to soils. So, larch can grow both on the dry soil of a mountain slope, and on the waterlogged land of a swampy lowland. However, if the soil conditions are too unfavorable, then the tree will grow very stunted and low.
Geographic distribution of the plant
Larch is one of the most common tree species on the planet, numbering up to 15 different types. Very often these trees form vast and light forests. Huge territories are occupied by larch forests in Siberia, as well as in the Far East.
European larch is often called a long-lived tree. She easily lives to the age of several hundred years. On the territory of Russia, three types of larch are most often found: Russian, Siberian and Dahurian. The latter can be easily distinguished by their shiny silvery buds. Whole forests grow in Transbaikalia
In North America, western and American larch has become widespread. In the United States, the wood of these species is actively used in construction and industry.
The use of larch by man
The wood of this tree has long been used by man. It differs in durability, elasticity, resinousness. Plus, it is very resistant to decay. In the hardness of larch fabrics, they are second only to oak.
The wood of this plant is actively used in the construction business, in industry, in the construction of surface or underwater structures. Turpentine is also produced from it.
The plant is also used in folk medicine. So, larch needles are a huge source of ascorbic acid. Therefore, fresh needles (or an infusion of them) are an excellent prophylactic against scurvy. In addition, baths from the needles of this tree are recommended for people suffering from joint diseases. Turpentine is also made from larch resin - very effective remedy for rheumatism and gout.
Finally...
Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree? After reading our article, you will forever remember the answer to this question.
Larch is a tree not only beautiful, but also very useful. The wood of this unique plant is very durable and resistant to decay, so it is widely used in the construction industry. And several centuries earlier, the strongest and most reliable ships were made from it.