Larix russica
Common name: 
Siberian Larch
Russian Larch
Pronunciation: 
LAR-iks rus-I-ka
Family: 
Pinaceae
Genus: 
Larix
Synonyms: 
Larix sibirica
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous conifer, to 100 ft (30 m) tall, crown narrow and conical, branches erect on young trees, but horizontal on old trees.  Leaves in clusters of 15-30, each 2-4 cm long, soft, nearly filamentous, dark green above, with 2 stomatal bands of 2 rows each below, yellowish in fall.  Mature cones 2.5-4 cm long, very short stalked, with about 30 scales, which are brown tomentose on the exterior, thick, leathery, bract scale hidden.
  • Sun, moist, light soil
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (1) 2     Native range extends from near the Finnish boarder to central and eastern Siberia.  Jacobson (1996) reports that it "performs well in Montana and the adjacent provinces of Canada."
  • Several cultivars listed (e.g., 'Conica', 'Fastigiata', 'Glauca', 'Longifolia', 'Pendula'), but probably most are not readily available in the U.S.  A possible exception is 'Conica', which is described by its wholesale producer (Iseli Nursery, Boring, Oregon) as and upright-narrow, light-green spire, having nearly horizontal branches that sweep up at the tips.
  • russica: Russian.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • needle clusters

    needle clusters

  • branch with developing cone

    branch with developing cone

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark