Botanical Name:

Larix laricina

Common Name:

tamarack, American larch

Family Name:

Pinaceae – pine family

General Description:

Larix laricinais native to the northern tier of North America and is considered one of the most cold hardy of trees. It is native in acidic bogs and swamps but can grow in more upland sites provided there is adequate moisture. According to The Morton Arboretum, tamarack, which is native in the Chicago area, is on the threatened species list for Illinois. For this reason they suggest it should never be collected from the wild and plants should only be purchased from reputable nurseries. Larix laricina is intolerant of shade, drought, heat or pollution. As a deciduous conifer it shares many of the same morphological characteristics as its European relative, Larix decidua; however, it is less adapted to landscape conditions and is infrequently used. There are a few unique cultivars available from specialty growers.

Zone:

(1)2-4 or 5

Resources Consulted:

Davis, Becke. "ILCA Presents-Deciduous Conifers: In a Class by Themselves." Landscape Contractor June 2003: 29-36. Print.

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

"The PLANTS Database." USDA, NRCS. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA, 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

Swink, Floyd, and Gerould Wilhelm. Plants of the Chicago Region. Indianapolis: Indiana Academy of Science, 1994. Print.

"Tamarack." Trees & Plants. Morton Arboretum, 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Pinaceae, Larix laricina, tree, conifer, cone, needle, deciduous, tamarack, American larch

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