western larch Pinaceae Larix occidentalis Nutt. symbol: LAOC Leaf: Deciduous, yellow-green in spring turning golden yellow in fall; borne singly on current year's twigs, but clustered on spur shoots on older twigs; 1 to 1 3/4 inches long, linear, and flattened to triangular in cross-section. Flower: Species is monoecious; male cones are round to oblong and yellow to yellow-green in color; female cones are small, erect, and bright red when young. Fruit: Small (1 to 1 1/2 inches long), egg-shaped cones with thin, woody scales with finely toothed apexes. Bracts have spines that are longer than the scales (similar to Douglas-fir, but smaller). Twig: Twigs are yellowish brown and covered by short, thick spur shoots; may be finely hairy the first year. Bark: Young bark is thin, scaly, and gray-brown, later becoming 3 to 6 inches thick with deep furrows and flattened ridges, yellow to reddish brown. Form: A large deciduous conifer growing 100 to 180 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter, very straight bole topped with a lacy, open crown. Looks like: Dunkeld larch - subalpine larch - tamarack Additional Range Information: Larix occidentalis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting western larch. More: Fall Color Wood External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America USDAFS Additional Silvics Landowner Factsheet USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson