Larix kaempferi aka Japanese Larch

Larix kaempferi, also known as the Japanese larch or karamatsu, is a medium-sized to large deciduous coniferous tree native to Japan. It can reach heights of 20-40 meters with a trunk diameter of up to 1 meter. The crown is broad conic, with both main and side branches level, rarely drooping. The tree has dimorphic shoots, with long shoots ranging from 10-50 cm in length and bearing several buds, and short shoots only 1-2 mm long with a single bud. The needle-like leaves are light glaucous green, 2-5 cm long, and turn bright yellow to orange in the autumn before falling, leaving the pinkish-brown shoots bare until spring. The erect cones are ovoid-conic, 2-3.5 cm long, and consist of 30-50 reflexed seed scales. They are green when immature, turning brown and opening to release the seeds 4-6 months after pollination. The old cones often remain on the tree for many years, becoming dull grey-black. Larix kaempferi thrives in well-drained soils at altitudes up to 2,900 meters, avoiding waterlogged ground. One specific cultivar of Larix kaempferi, called 'Nana', is a dwarf variety that grows to a maximum height of 1 meter. Its leaves emerge light green in spring, mature to blue-green in summer, and turn golden-yellow in autumn before falling. The bark of 'Nana' is red-brown and covered with short spurs. Overall, Larix kaempferi is a notable species of larch named after Engelbert Kaempfer. It is also known by the synonym Larix leptolepis. This type of larch differs from others with its slightly twisted branches in a spiral and reddish-brown fissured bark. It can grow up to 30-35 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 50-100 cm. The young shoots are light brownish yellow with a bluish bloom and are densely pubescent or almost glabrous. The needles are dull and about 15-50 mm long in gray-gray or bluish-green color. The inflorescences are yellowish and reddish green, and the rounded-oval cones consist of 45-50 scales arranged in five to six rows. The bark on the trunks is relatively thin, longitudinally fissured, and thinly peeling. 'Nana' begins to bear fruit in the 15-20th year of life and grows around 25 cm in height and 10-15 cm in width throughout the year. In summary, Larix kaempferi, or the Japanese larch, is a versatile and visually appealing tree with various characteristics, including its needle-like leaves, erect cones, and reddish-brown bark. The 'Nana' cultivar adds a unique element with its dwarf size, colorful foliage, and spurs-covered bark.