This beautiful plant is often used in landscape design. Larch is a fast-growing large tree with a spreading crown.
Typically, coniferous plants are difficult to tolerate modifications of the forms of branches, but this does not apply to larch. In total, there are approximately 15 plant species in the genus Larch. You can meet them in a variety of climatic conditions.
The article provides a description, growing conditions and photos of European larch.
Distribution area
Larches are found in forests of mixed type in the territories from Northern and Western Europe to the Carpathians. Most of them grow in the mountainous regions of the Carpathians and the Alps at an altitude of 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level, and interspersed with spruce and fir.
The life span of this tree is approximately 500 years, which is not the limit. The oldest registered larch is 800 years old.
According to rough estimates, this species is the largest tree in the world by the number of units.
Types of Larch
First, we briefly present the varieties of larch. Of the 15 species in the Russian gardens, mainly four are grown:
- Siberian larch. Distributed in the European part of Russia and in Western Siberia. It is she who is often found in squares and park areas of cities. Its distinctive feature is rather massive branches and small branches almost not drooping. The cones are large. A characteristic feature of it is an earlier fall of needles after yellowing compared to other types.
- Daurian larch (Gmelina) - record holder in frost resistance. Places of its growth in nature - a significant part of the territory of the Far East and Siberia. In gardening is rarely used. Distinctive features are a lighter and thinner crown, as well as small cones with scales with slightly pointed ends.
- European larch in Russia is less common than Siberian, and it can often be seen in old city parks. It is easy to distinguish by weeping, drooping branches. More detailed information about this type (description, landing and care) can be found further from the article.
- Thin-scaled larch, Japanese (or Kempfer) - a beautiful plant found in natural conditions in the mountains of Japan. It has wide and long needles of light turquoise color. Of particular beauty are its cones, the scales of which are curved outward, so they look like small beautiful roses.
Description of European larch
This tree in the wild grows up to 50 meters in height, and the diameter of its trunk can be 1.5 meters. However, these larches in horticultural culture are characterized by smaller sizes.
The crown has an irregular or conical shape. The bark is painted in gray-brown color. The branches are drooping, and the leaves located on short shoots have different lengths and they are collected in 30-40 pieces in bunches. Young cones are painted in a beautiful purple color, in adulthood they acquire a brown hue. Cones usually open in early spring.
In Russia, this species of larch is cultivated as a landscape gardening tree. Many confuse Siberian and European larch, not noticing the existing differences. In fact, the first species is characterized, as noted above, by weeping tender shoots that extend from the skeletal branches.
Growing conditions
Larch is unpretentious, photophilous, prefers well-drained, moist and slightly alkaline soils. It grows a little worse on acidic and dry sandy soils. In summer dry periods, young trees need good watering. The plant tolerates transplant perfectly at any age.
Places of distribution are the northern and western forests of European countries. Larch has a tendency to intensive development, rapid growth. In the latitudes of Russia, its height reaches only half of what is possible. The tree adapts well on any soil, even on loam and limestone, but it does not respond well to nearby groundwater.
Larch in Europe has been grown since ancient times. Therefore, this species has different garden forms, of which creeping and weeping, grafting on a stump, are especially common in Russia.
Varieties of European Larch
- “Konika” is a standard form having the correct crown shape. The long lower branches are in the horizontal plane, and those that grow taller are shorter, so that a cone forms. The variety was bred in 1868 by French breeders.
- "Bullets" - a dwarf tree with a narrow crown with shoots hanging down, like a weeping larch. The average plant height reaches an average of 2 meters in height. The needles have a green color with a gray tint. Larch, which needs a large space, is used both in group plantings and singly. The form is frost-resistant, tolerates winter well.
- The creeping form is a dwarf standard tree. The shoots droop heavily, reach the ground and spread along it. The trunk is most often reclining, curved, the crown is wide and dense. Thanks to her, larch looks fabulously magnificent. For wintering, the trunk should be covered with a breathable insulation.
It is also worth noting such varieties as weeping European larch - Pendula, Fastigiata, Compacta, Kellermannii, Corley, Repens, etc.
Weeping form
European larch Pendula has thin shoots unevenly located on the trunk that hang beautifully down. In height, the tree grows up to 30 meters. European gardeners first discovered it in 1836 and immediately adopted it. Larch of this form is photophilous and hardy. It propagates by vaccination.
It should be noted that the tree is resistant to air pollution, so it feels great in urban environments. And in former times, larch was widely bred because it is beautiful and grows relatively quickly.
Growing larch from seeds
To grow European larch from seeds, you need to hold them in cold water before planting for about 3 days. Moreover, the timing should be predicted so that the land warms up well by the time of sowing seeds.
Between the rows, the distance should be about 12 centimeters, and between plants - a few centimeters. The landing depth from the soil surface should be 3-5 mm. With proper sowing and favorable weather conditions, seedlings should appear in about two weeks. When cooling, it is better to cover the crops with special garden material.
Growing seedlings
When planting seedlings of European larch, you must adhere to the following rules. It is advisable to plant them at the very beginning of autumn (when the needles turn yellow) or in the early spring (after complete thawing of the soil). First you need to prepare a place for landing, which should not be shaded. Dig a hole 50 to 50 cm in size. Sprinkle the root of the plant with a mixture of peat and dug up turf land (1: 1 ratio). If the earth is heavy, it should be well diluted with sand.
A planted European larch tree should be watered abundantly. You can make a little compost or humus. It is not recommended to add fresh manure. When creating comfortable conditions, larch is well established and feels quite comfortable. Every year, she can add about 1.5 meters in height.
It is advisable to fertilize the earth with mineral fertilizers, for example, nitroammophos. At the growth stage, it is very important to water the seedlings, since the earth must always be moist. If everything is done correctly, next year you will have strong plants. The grown seedlings should be planted at a certain distance from each other, and after another year or two they can be planted in a permanent place.
Conclusion
With minimal effort and a certain amount of time, you can transform the appearance of a garden or garden with the help of a surprisingly beautiful and decorative coniferous weeping beauty. Following simple rules, you can plant a plant among other vegetation or alone in the middle of a lawn.
From April, young needles begin to appear on the tree, which until the autumn delight the eye with their fresh greenery. Thanks to this plant, the summer cottage will look picturesque and unique.