Tree of the Month
2.8N Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi)
Larches are unusual in that they are deciduous conifers, and our Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi), photographed last November, is no exception.
It has light-green needle-like leaves, 2-5 cm long, which turn bright yellow to orange in autumn, providing colour which persists well into winter, when they fall. The cones are green when young, turning brown when mature, and are erect, oval and small – typically about 2 cm high.
The Japanese Larch originates in mountains on Honshu, Japan’s main island, where it thrives at heights up to 3,000 metres. It was first introduced into this country in 1861, but still remains a relatively rare sight in our parks and gardens.
Our specimen, quite a large tree, stands in the centre of the lawn in front of the lodge.
