Practical
Plants

Pseudolarix amabilis

Golden Larch

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pseudolarix genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
40 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[3]. The stem bark is used in the treatment of ringworm[3]. The bark shows fungicidal activity against the parasitic Epidermophyton and Trichphyton fungi that cause ringworm[3].

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The wood is used for furniture, boat building, and bridges[4].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - E. China.
Habitat
Evergreen and deciduous, broad-leaved mixed, forests; 100-1500 metres[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late winter in a cold greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Best grown in a warm sheltered site on a deep fertile soil with a pH between 5 and 6 and an annual rainfall of around 1000mm[2]. Plants dislike dry winds and soils that dry out readily[2]. Slow-growing[1]. A difficult tree to grow well in cool temperate regions, if planted out when small it is easily scorched and can be killed by temperatures of -5°c[2]. In Britain good trees are only found in the southern part of the country[2]. Plants prefer a continental climate with hot summers - they are then much hardier and tolerate cold winters[2]. Best planted out when 30 - 80cm tall, it needs to be kept weed free until established and might require winter protection for its first few years[2]. There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value[2].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  3. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

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