Virginia Tech Dendrology

tamarack Pinaceae Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch symbol: LALA
Leaf: Deciduous, flat needle, light green, appear in spirals on spur shoots after first year, 3/4 to 1 inch long, turn yellow in the fall.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males yellowish, small and round in clusters near branch tips; females reddish-brown, numerous scales, egg-shaped.
Fruit: Small, 3/4 to 1 inch, light brown, egg-shaped cone; persist throughout the winter.
Twig: Slender, light brown, numerous short, spur branches.
Bark: Rough, small scaly patches, grayish brown to reddish brown.
Form: Open, narrow, conical crown; trunk straight, grows to 80 feet; 1 1/2 feet in diameter.
Looks like: Dunkeld larch - western larch - subalpine larch - European larch

Additional Range Information: Larix laricina is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color - Landowner Factsheet
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information