Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

western larch Pinaceae Larix occidentalis Nutt. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet 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

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

Additional Range Information: Larix occidentalis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color - Wood - Landowner Factsheet
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
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