| General Description | The subalpine larch is a deciduous conifer reaching heights of 12-15 m. with blue-green leaves that turn golden in autumn. Sprouting from the projecting bumps of the branches, leaves cluster in groups of 30-40. |
| ID Characteristic | The fringed margins on the scales covering almost all of the buds have woven long white hairs during the winter months. In the autumn it turns a gorgeous, vibrant golden colour. |
| Shape | Subalpine larch is a gnarled looking tree often having an irregularly shaped crown that is wind-swept and wide-spread. |
| Propagation | Before the cones open and dry they should be collected. Propagation is easily accomplished if seeds are planted in the autumn. The seeds should be soaked in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for at least 24 hours to soften the seed casing. Once seeds have germinated keep them in a cold fame at lower temperature with plenty of light. In late summer larches can also be propagated by cuttings. Semi-hardwood, leafy cuttings should be acquired from young trees. Apply a rooting hormone through a quick-dip at 2,000 ppm to encourage new root growth. |
| Cultivation | Grows in partial shade to full sunlight, and prefers well drained gravelly soil. |
| Pests | Larchs are prone to canker but pose no serious threat to the plant. |
| Habitat | Larix lyallii grows along the timberline on exposed rocky slopes between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, from Alberta and British Columbia to Montana and Oregon. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Juvenile bark has cinnamon red scales. As it matures, scales form with hues of purples and reds and are more deeply grooved. The thickness of the bark ranges from 0.5-1.5 cm. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are nearly black in colour and are covered in hoary tomentum. |
| Leaf Description | Leaves are 4 angled, blue-green and are clustered into 30-40 needles. Measuring 2.5-4 cm in length, the leaves have short points and are rigid. |
| Flower Description | Male flowers of the larch are short and oblong. Female flowers are ovoid-oblong. |
| Fruit Description | Larches are monoecious plants. The strobili of the larch are scattered along the branches. Female and male strobili shoots spur up between the leaf-bearing shoots. By the end of May, the buds bearing strobili swell. Purplish cones take the place of the female strobili and measure 4-5 cm in length by September. |
| Colour Description | The foliage is a blue-green in the summer months. During the autumn months the leaves turn golden in colour. |
| Texture Description | Medium. |