Larix occidentalis - Common Bonsai,Conifer - Western Larch Page

Introducing the stunning Western Larch, also known as Larix occidentalis. This deciduous coniferous tree is native to the mountains of western North America and can reach up to 150 ft tall with a trunk diameter of up to 5 ft. Its slender, light green needle-like leaves turn bright yellow in the fall, leaving the pale orange-brown shoots bare until the next spring. The seed cones are ovoid-cylindric with 40 to 80 seed scales, and the cones turn brown and open flat or reflexed to release the seeds when mature, four to six months after pollination. The wood of this majestic tree is highly prized as firewood in the Pacific Northwest and is also used for yacht building and rustic fencing. Western Larch is also used for the production of Venice turpentine. Its seeds are an important food source for birds like the Pine Siskin, Redpoll, and Two-barred crossbill. With an exceptional tolerance for cold temperatures down to about −50 °C, Western Larch thrives in altitudes of 1,500 to 7,500 feet and on well-drained soils. Explore the beauty and functionality of this magnificent tree today.