Larix gmelinii aka Dahurian Larch

Larix gmelinii is also known as Dahurian larch. It belongs to the pine family. This conifer sheds its needles each year. It grows wild in Siberia and northeastern China. Its native range also covers Mongolia and Korea. It reaches the tree line within the Arctic Circle. Wild trees form forests on hills and mountains. They also grow on rocky slopes and in peatlands. Other sites include swamps, river valleys, and low plains.

Sources give quite different heights for this tree. Oregon State lists a height of about 35 feet (11 metres). Missouri Botanical Garden gives wild heights of 40–60 feet (12–18 metres). Its listed mature height reaches 90 feet (27.43 metres). Larger trees may reach 100–115 feet (30–35 metres). Listed spreads range from 13–30 feet (4–9.14 metres). The crown forms a broad cone with gaps between branches. Long branches grow sideways, then turn up at the tips. Smaller branchlets hang down. The bark is rusty brown.

Bright green needles grow in bunches on short shoots. They reach about 1.5 inches long and turn yellow in autumn. Once the needles fall, the branches stay bare through winter. The male parts that help the tree reproduce are yellow. Young female cones are purple. These cones grow upright and become pale brown and glossy. Mature cones are oval and reach about 1.5 inches long. The autumn leaf colour makes it useful as a specimen tree. It can also form the canopy of a woodland garden.

Grow Dahurian larch in full sun, with moist soil that drains well. It accepts some light shade but grows poorly in deep shade. Acid or neutral soil suits it. It can grow in clay, loam, or sand. Dry soil and many city pollutants cause problems. Cold winters and cool summers suit it best. Heat and humid summers limit its use in warmer gardens. Most garden guides place it in USDA zones 2–5. Oregon State reports hardiness to zone 1. RHS gives it a rating of H7. Late spring frosts can damage trees in milder areas. It needs no routine pruning. It may take over 50 years to mature.

Pests include adelgids, sawflies, and case-bearers. Loopers, moths, and Japanese beetles can also attack it. Needle cast, needle rust, and canker may occur. RHS warns that honey fungus may cause damage. It notes doubt about how prone the tree is to this disease. The wood lasts well and has uses in building. The bark contains tannin. People tap its resin for uses that include preserving wood. Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses. It also lists no known medicinal uses or hazards. That does not mean it has confirmed the tree's safety.