European larch
Larix decidua
Origin: non-native
Type: deciduous conifer
Height: up to 35m high
Winter buds: yellow brown colour, oval shape.
Leaves: 2-3 cm needles in tufts of 30-40, bright green.
Flowers: male flowers are small drooping yellow cones, female flowers are upright pink or red cones.
Fruit: woody brown cones.
Distribution: ornamental tree found in parks and gardens.
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European larch needles and cones (ATStockPhoto/Alamy) -
European larch in autumn (Ken Leslie/WTML)
Not to be confused with
Japanese larch
Tell European larch apart from Japanese larch by the cones. Japanese larch has cone scales which open out like the petals of a rose. In European larch the cone scales don’t open as widely. (Judith Garforth/WTML)
