Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

European larch Pinaceae Larix decidua Mill. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet play symbol: LADE2
Leaf: Deciduous, appearing singly on new growth and in whorls on older growth, 1 inch long, light green in color.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males light yellow, small and round; females yellow to red, with long, curved scales.
Fruit: Cones are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, ovoid, composed of many scales that are longer than the bracts, borne upright on the twig, maturing fall to early winter.
Twig: Straw-colored, bearing rounded buds. Spur shoots present on older growth, buds dark brown.
Bark: On young trees the bark is scaly and gray, later becoming furrowed with a reddish brown inner bark.
Form: Well formed, with a straight stem, pyramidal crown, and drooping lateral branches.
 Looks like: Dunkeld larch - Japanese larch - tamarack - western larch

European larch leaf image
European larch flower image
European larch fruit image
European larch twig image
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European larch bark image
European larch form image
European larch map image

Additional Range Information: Larix decidua is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 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