Pseudolarix amabilis (kaempferi)
Golden Larch
Pinaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to Eastern China
- Zone 5
Habit and Form
- deciduous conifer
- 30' to 50' tall by 20' to 40' wide
- very open conical shape, with wide spreading horizontal branches
- medium texture
- slow growth rate
Summer Foliage
- soft, light green needles with 2 gray stomatal bands on underside
- 1.5" to 2.5" long
- pointed needle tip
- found in clusters on spur-like branchlets or singly on new shoots
- buds are brown, pointed and ovoid in shape with black hairs surrounding it
- two types on new stems: spur-like branchlets that look like doughnuts stacked on top of each other and smooth, brown long shoots
Autumn Foliage
- needles turn gold
- does not hold color for very long
Flowers
- monoecious
- no ornamental value
Fruit
- solitary cones, purple when immature turning to a golden brown
- 2" to 3" long
- cones are borne in upper third on tree
- attractive
- cones do not remain on tree after maturity
Bark
- grayish brown outer bark
- lightly ridged
Culture
- easily transplanted when dormant
- prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil
- full sun
- resistant to air pollutants
- intolerant of wind
Landscape Uses
- specimen
- for attractive spring and autumn foliage color
- lawn tree for open areas
Liabilities
- not tolerant of wind
- hard to locate to purchase
ID Features
- concentric ringed spur-like branchlets with black hairs at tip
- needles longer than true larch
- tree shorter than true larch
- 2 white stomatal lines on underside of needles
- cones fall off tree soon after maturity
Propagation
- by seeds
Cultivars/Varieties
Several dwarf forms are occasionally seen, but they are only of interest to collectors. Among them are: 'Annesleyana', 'Dawsonii' and 'Nana'.