Larix kaempferi Pendula (Japanese Larch)
Larix kaempferi 'Pendula' (Japanese Larch) is a lovely deciduous conifer that will take on many forms, mounding, arching, or weeping, depending on training. Unless pruned, its branches will eventually weep to the ground and form a ground cover. The shoots are a rich to reddish pink on the new growth. Unlike most cone-bearing trees, the Japanese Larch loses its foliage each winter. Among the earliest trees to come into leaf in spring, its blue-green to glaucous needles turn bright yellow before being shed in the fall. In winter, its brick-red bark is revealed, offering a nice contrast with the golden foliage. Fast-growing and very hardy, this Japanese Larch is an old cultivar that has been a mainstay of the nursery trade since the late 1800s. It makes a wonderful specimen in a large landscape. It is adaptable to wet areas, tolerates clay soils, and is disease-resistant.
- Grows up to 15-30 ft. tall (4-9 m) and 12-20 ft. wide (3-6 m) at maturity.
- A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in deep, well-drained soils.
- Watch for adelgids, honey fungus, and canker.
- No pruning required
- Propagate by seed, sown from late winter to spring. Chilling the seeds for three weeks may aid germination. Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Graft in winter
- Native to Japan
Requirements
Hardiness | 4 – 7 |
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Heat Zones | 4 – 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 |
Plant Type | Conifers, Shrubs, Trees |
Plant Family | Larix – Larches |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall |
Height | 15' – 30' (4.5m – 9m) |
Spread | 12' – 20' (3.6m – 6m) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Deer |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |