Larix kaempferi pendula

15 years ago

I think I have it labeled correctly.

I'm a middle-aged gardener and have waited all my life to have this tree. I'm a scientist who works for the gov't (don't laugh) so I don't make enough $$ to just go buy a tree whenever I want one. I don't want to lose this tree. I did as you folks recommended about the rootball, did not completely remove the burlap because roots were growing through it, but cut off as much of it as I could, expecially around the trunk. I planted it in the recommended way, 2/3 in the planting hole with compost and mulch over the top 1/3.

So here it is. Looking happy, I think. It has rained every day or two since I planted it, so it's not had a chance to dry out, and the soil has excellent drainage. It's on the east side of the house in some light shade with about 4 hours of direct sun.

If there's anything else I need to do, please tell me.

Thanks,

Lainey

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Comments (12)

pineresin
15 years ago
"I think I have it labeled correctly" - yep, except a slight orthographic correction; pendula is a cultivar name so is capitalised and in single quotes:
Larix kaempferi 'Pendula'

Looks healthy to me. The only thing I'd be a bit concerned about is the shade it is getting; larches demand full sun and don't do well in shade at all, 4 hours sun isn't really enough.

Resin
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
you have to learn about mail ordering of smaller one gal potted stock .... the search is half the fun ... maybe $25 bucks ...

larix grow ... setting aside the minis/dwarves .... 1 to 5 feet per year ... it not really cost effective to spend big bucks on a big plant .. in my estimate ... short of a life long dream of course.. been there.. done that ....

why did you plant it as noted... clay???? .. if so .. sounds like you did it right ...

frankly .. the ONLY way to kill this tree .... is to love it to death ... water it properly for two years .... and you should have a bullet proof plant ... try to avoid suffocating it with too much love and worry ...

i dont know about the shade issue ...my gut tells me that shade decreases vigor... but i think the issue is that fact that it is deciduous ... meaning it has a limited time frame to make all the food it needs for next spring.. i am of the opinion ... that the evergreen plants... like arbs... are growing from the minute the soil thaws.. until it refreezes up here ... ergo ... one that loses all its needles has a reduced ability to store food ... and i note.. this is more of a green thumb description, rather than a learned treatise on such ....

anyway .... watch it all summer.... really study the sun patterns.. and if you come to the conclusion that you have a better place in more sun ... move it in october or april in your z6 .... as soon as it loses its leaves.. or 6 to 8 weeks before the heat of next summer ... or prior to ground freeze if any ...

pix of mine below... and at least halt the size .. if not 1/4 ..... 6/2002 .... both listed as L. decidua .... ends up one is L kaempferi .... i discovered such.. when it browned out at the same time as its famous cousin L. k. diana .... boy bad pix... do note the new growth rate .... and the date on the pic... only 3 years after planting ...

i am so happy you fulfilled a life dream .... enjoy it ...

ken

PS: in full blistering sun .... in sand.. in my z5 .... almost all but the species plants brown in august ... not totally .... but just enough to give them a tannish tinge .... THIS IS NORMAL .... and will be even more so on a recent transplant ... JUST KEEP IT WATERED PROPERLY [you know how to do that?] .... and just try not to have an anuerysim .... lol

{{gwi:268907}}

{{gwi:764462}}

PPS: what is the next conifer on the dream list ....????
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The weeping Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi 'Pendula') would be grafted onto seedling Japanese larch stock (Larix kaempferi seedlings.) Our native tamarack is Larix laricina and is capable of growing in standing water as well as growing in much drier conditions. Larix kaempferi or Larix decidua (European larch) cannot grow in standing water. Many people may have a problem growing the Japanese or European larch thinking that these plants grow in the same conditions as our native larch (Larix laricina) or thinking because they're all larches, they all require the same growing conditions. Not true. Larix decidua is hardy to USDA zone 2. Larix kaempferi is hardy to USDA zone 4a and maybe zone 3b. Larix laricina (Tamarack) is hardy to USDA zone 1. Mike
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I cringe (Just a little bit ;^) when I see folks stating that spruce, larch, fir, what-have-you like "dry" conditions. Almost without exception, these plants are native to areas having considerable precipitation. To me, the confusion, if it is such, arises from the fact that many of these plants DO like good soil drainage. Take the case of Picea pungens-Colorado spruce. While it IS more prone to cytospora canker in the E. U.S. than in its native haunts, this is due to atmospheric moisture-humidity, not excessive soil moisture. In fact, if my understanding is complete, the combination of drought stress coupled with high humidity is the combo most likely to tip it over the edge towards full-blown infection. Kind of like late-summer lawns getting powdery mildew. The soil is dry, but there is much evening humidity. The drought stress weakens the grass plants' defenses against the pathogens, and the high atmospheric moisture content facilitates the spread of these pathogens. Morning dew is not anywhere near sufficient to moisten badly dried out soil, but it's just great for airborn pathogens. That's how I see it anyway. Now, back to conifers. I've never seen larch happy anywhere but in full sun. If drought continues long enough, the tree simply runs out of water, resulting in dessicating foliage. +oM
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botanybabe
Original Author
15 years ago
The next one is Cedrus deodara "Divinily Blue," (that's how they spell it at the nursery) or Cryptomeria japonica "Elegans Aurea." Each is lovely in it's own way. But truthfully I'm thrilled by all conifers. Now that I have the larix I have to stick to the smaller ones since I don't have a lot of room. Anyhoo, I'm savin' my pennies.

Lainey
wisconsitom
15 years ago
Botanybabe

A bit off topic...but a response to something in your OP: If only the masses knew how many truly dedicated, competent govt. employees there are! And as I'll bet you're aware, all too often, these same dedicated individuals have their own better judgement thwarted by political concerns from on high;^(

It is truly a shame that so often, the mere mention that a person works for the govt. brings cynicism. And I'm saying this with no irony.

Oh, by the way, nice larch. Resins' concern for adequate sun was my initial reaction, also.

+oM
botanybabe
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for your kind words +oM,

Scientists, like me, who work for a gov't agency have to not take ourselves so seriously right now. The current gov't certainly doesn't seem interested in our scientific results and that is why I said don't laugh.

You are right, there are a LOT of dedicated gov't employees who keep things running and who care about they job they do. They are good people.

Lainey
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
Cedrus deodara "Divinily Blue

$29 at link below .... yes it will be small ... but it will be yours within a couple days ...

i am a collector... i would NEVER pay 150$ for a plant.. when .. with the same money.. i can buy 3 to 5 other plants .... or as i like to say.. i have more time than money .....

check out juniper horz pancake .... probably also listed at the link ... one inch tall.. spreading mat... that looks like... believe it or not.. a pancake ....

i mean really... may as well spread shipping over a couple plants.. lol ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: arrowhead nurs
SilverVista
15 years ago
Beautiful larix!

DEVINELY Blue -- regardless of the many ways people have tried to "correct" the spelling, or have just plain made further mistakes, the name is a witty play on words coined by Don Howse for Bill Devine who originally found the plant.
botanybabe
Original Author
15 years ago
Ahh, well now that you explained that spelling, Silvervista, I can appreciate the word game.

Thanks, Ken, for the link. It may be my favorites are more accessible than I thought. "Pancake" is cool too. So you think I should let the larix settle in and transplant it in the fall rather than do it now before it has put down a lot of roots? I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep this tree alive and healthy.

Thanks a bunch to all of you. My conifers are all thriving and a lot of the credit goes to the great people in this forum.

Lainey
prostrata
15 years ago
whoa wisconsitom, time to put down the kool-aid there...
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
since it was just recently planted.. i suppose it wouldnt do that much harm to replant it ...

all i would want to know.. is it properly hardened off to more sun ... in other words ... was it growing in full sun in the nursery ...

aw heck . its a larch.. it will sun burn in the sun.. whether or not you move it ...

go for it.. AND KEEP IT PROPERLY WATERED.. and you should be all set ...

ken
botanybabe
Original Author
15 years ago
It was in full sun in the nursery, so I'll go ahead and move it now, though I HATE for it to turn brown. How will I know it's not dead?

Lainey
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
i said/meant it will scorch ...not turn dead brown ... just a cast of tannish on each needle... not full brown ...

i know the pix with the old camera are lacking.. but look at my first pic .... its got the cast ... that is how i noticed it did the same thing as diana .... and ID'd it as kaempferi vs decidua .... the other in the second pic doesnt do it as bad ....

also note.. same pic... two waves of needles.... old wood and new wood ... the needles on the new growth remain green.. those on old wood color .... perhaps the plant is sacrificing to maintain the new growth ..

both plants are on drip irrigation ... and watered EXACTLY the same ... and planted in the same sun... on either side of the deck .... same sun .. same water.. everything the same.. the diana is out in the pasture.. free range... full sun ... no water ....

ken

Larix kaempferi pendula

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