In UK conditions, Larix x marschlinsii is faster, the more so the poorer the soil; on good soils the difference is less obvious. On very good soils, Larix decidua can just exceed it, but not L. kaempferi.

I'd say JL is probably just the most heat tolerant of the commonly planted larches, rather than the absolute most heat tolerant. Given their respective native climates, I'd expect Larix principis-rupprechtii (from northern China in the mountains west of Beijing) could have a slight edge over it, but it isn't widely grown so can't be considered fully tested.

Resin

Perfect, Resin -- just the answers I was looking for.

Thanks,

-James

James:

You could consider the hybrid--Japanese X European, sometimes called the Dunkeld larch--sorry, I don't know the latest official "proper" designation.

Go to the Virginia Arboretum east of Winchester on US route 50 and look at the larches. The Dunkeld is much better than any of the others. It is in the wooded conifer area on the lower left side of the alley running down the center of the conifers area next to a European larch.

--Spruce

Hi Spruce,

He has, it's Larix à marschlinsii ;-)

Resin

YES! I'm so glad larches came up. I think I have seen the "Dunkeld" larch at the VA arboretum ( I know I saw it somewhere a few years ago, and made a mental note to remember the name) and wanted to plant a small grove (3) of them when I finally had a garden that could hold them. I have a special fondness for deciduous conifers. It should be noted the regular European larch will grow here but I've never seen one that looked really happy. There is/was an old one at Oatlands.

I also want a Taxodium 'Prairie Sentinel' when it pops back up in the trade. There is a mature one at Brookside and it really is one of the best looking conifers. The branching structure is more consistant than the typical pond cypress. It's a named variety that was actually worthy of being named. Luckily the conifer world hasn't quite fallen prey to the trend elsewhere to name and patent everything even if they are hardly different from the species.

davidrt28, both Europe X Japan and Japan larch do well here, despite budding out very early (early April). The hybrid grows a bit faster in poorer soil than the Japanese -- 42" leader vs 32" last season.

Pond cypress also does well here. No surprise, but the quality of the fall color here is surprising, see below:

Here is a link that might be useful: Pond cypress saplings

Thanks...I'm curious where did you get the hybrid larches?
I have ordered from Forestfarm this spring but would like to know if there is an East Coast source for larger plants.

Also how long ago did you plant them and how fast have they grown for you?

The hybrid's from ForestFarm. The Japanese larch is mail-order from Musserforests, both in-ground the spring of 2004. The former is now ~8' tall and the latter 7' (the tops are now out of deer-chewing range). Larch is one tree you can get small & it'll grow rapidly enough that an expensive nursery tree seems wasteful, unless you're really impatient.

Zone7 is close to these trees' heat-tolerance but prb'ly not exceeding if there's enough moisture. A shaded root-zone or north-facing slope would help, but they need alot of sun.

Maybe I can coax the hybrid into a 4'+ leader this growing season, even planted in crushed limestone/clay near the road where it gets dusted w/limestone road-dust -- a tough, poor soil & very windy location. The Japanese larch is in somewhat better soil.