A deciduous conifer, pyramidal in habit with horizontal branches and weeping branchlets, becomings more irregular with age; growing to a height of 24 - 30 m.

Description

Distinguishing Features - Summer Foliage: soft, flat needles 2.5 - 3.2 cm long, bright green in spring, darkening with maturity, found in groups on spurs or in a spiral arrangement down long branches.
Autumn Foliage: needles turn yellow before dropping, typically showy.

Flowers: monoecious, both male and female strobili cover tree in early spring; female: egg-shaped about 6 - 18 mm long, in reds, pinks, yellows, or green; male: smaller and yellow moderately attractive. Fruit: purple cones dry to brown young cones somewhat showy ovoid, 2.5 - 3.8 cm long, scales pubescent on backside, overlapped but not reflexed; cones are persistent. Bark: grayish brown outer bark loose elongated plates reveal a reddish inner bark young stems are yellowish and furrowed.

Habitat

Native to Europe; prefers mountainous regions with well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions.

Notes

The European Larch is closely-related to North America's Tamarack Larix laricina.

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