European Larch
Larix decidua
- Native to:
- Austria, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Italy, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Larix
- Species:
- Larix decidua
- USDA Symbol:
- LADE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- red, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Winter moth (Operophtera brumata), Zale helata
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- golden yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, sandy loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 7.0 (acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers cooler climates with seasonal moisture
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for optimal germination. Fresh seed germinates best; viability declines rapidly in storage.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI