Official websites use .gov
A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
Western Larch
 |
(aka Tamarack)
(Larix occidentalis)
Size at 150 years: 100-160 feet tall, 1 1/2 to 3 feet in diameter
Life Span: 500+ years
Needles: Crowded deciduous in a cluster of 14-30, 1/2" long on spur twigs. Turn brilliant gold in the fall, then drop to the ground.
Cones: 1 to 1 1/2" long with bract protruding from each cone scale.
Bark: Reddish-brown. Flat plates on mature trees.
Where to find: Mountain slopes and valleys on gravelly, sandy or loamy soils. Often found in mixed forests.
Things to know: Often follows or survives fires. Grouse eat buds and leaves. Valuable wood for construction, paneling, flooring, and utility poles. Highly sought as hot, clean burning firewood. Changes color with season.