Leaf
John De Vos, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
European larch
Larix decidua Mill.
Also known as: Common larch, Larch
Family: Pinaceae
20 to 40 m tall
Montane and subalpine zones of the Alps, well-drained soils
Flowering: April – May
Full sun
Very hardy, to about -35°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The larch is one of the few European conifers to lose its needles every autumn — its foliage turns yellow before falling, like that of a deciduous tree. European larch looks very much like Japanese larch (deciduous needles in tufts, conical outline) — the best clue is the cone: its scales stay rounded and pressed flat, whereas those of Japanese larch have the upper edge curled outwards, forming a rosette. The young twigs of Japanese larch are also more distinctly bronze-orange.
🍃 Leaves
Soft needles in small tufts, bright green, deciduous (shed every autumn)
🌸 Flowers
Small yellowish male cones and upright reddish female cones, distinct and discreet
🍎 Fruits
Small ovoid brown cone with rounded scales, persisting on the tree for several years
🪵 Bark
Grey to reddish-brown, thick, cracking into broad plates with age
🗺️ Distribution
Alps (natural native range); also widely planted in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central, where it is not considered native, generally above 1000 m altitude
🐝 Value for pollinators
Wind-pollinated, little direct interest for pollinators
✂️ Horticultural uses
Timber valued in construction and exterior joinery; planted for mountain reforestation
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
⚠️ Look-alike species
European larch
Larix decidua
Japanese larch
Larix kaempferi
European larch looks very much like Japanese larch (deciduous needles in tufts, conical outline) — the best clue is the cone: its scales stay rounded and pressed flat, whereas those of Japanese larch have the upper edge curled outwards, forming a rosette. The young twigs of Japanese larch are also more distinctly bronze-orange.
🌿 Other Pinaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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