Larix kaempferi (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Early spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 40m
Eventual Spread: 8m
Hardiness: 4a – 8b
Family: Pinaceae
Larix kaempferi is a fast growing medium/ large deciduous tree with a broad conical crown. Its grey/ green leaves are needle like, up to 5cm long and appear in whorls. The turn bright yellow in autumn before they fall .Its branches are horizontal. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its bark is scaly and gray on young trees, as it matures it furrows exposing red/ brown inner bark. Its fruit are erect cones and are up to 35mm long, they are initially green maturing to a grey/ black.
Larix kaempferi Autumn (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Larix kaempferi, commonly known as the Japanese Larch or Karamatsu, is native to Japan. It was introduced into the UK in 1861. Larix kaempferi is synonymous with Larix leptolepis. Since 2009 some plantations of Larix kaempferi in the UK are now being infected with the pathogen ‘Sudden Oak Death’.
The etymological root of the binomial name Larix is derived from the old Latin name for ‘Larch’. Kaempferi is named after Engelbert Kaempfer (1651 – 1716), a German naturalist and physician.
The landscape architect may find Larix kaempferi useful as an ornamental parkland tree with fantastic autumn color.
Ecologically, Larix kaempferi cones are attractive to birds.
Larix kaempferi Bark (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Larix kaempferi their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Larix kaempferi prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate poorly drained soils.
Larix kaempferi requires little maintenance.
