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Larix kaempferi
  • Japanese Larch

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

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Windbreak
    Windbreak
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Larix kaempferi has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Larix kaempferi.

Material uses

The heavy leaf-fall of this species has lead to it being planted as a fire-break in some areas where pine trees are grown[1].

A fast-growing tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings[2]. The bark contains tannin[3].

Wood - strong, heavy and durable[4][3].

Unknown part

Fire retardant
Tannin
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Larix kaempferi.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Windbreak

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[5]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[6]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. Although only a few centimetres tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer providing you give them an effective weed-excluding mulch and preferably some winter protection for their first year. Otherwise grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year. The seed remains viable for 3 years[5] If you are growing larger quantities of plants, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in late winter. Grow on the seedlings in the seedbed for a couple of years until they are ready to go into their permanent positions then plant them out during the winter.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Larix kaempferi. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[2]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate acid and infertile soils[2]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[2]. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south[7].

This species is very cold-hardy when fully dormant, but the trees can be excited into premature growth in Britain by mild spells during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[7]. Slow growing for its first two or three years from seed, it is then very vigorous making between 1 and 1.5 metres increase in height a year[1]. The belief that older trees do not do so well is erroneous, 50 year old specimens in Britain are still growing rapidly[1]. Trees have been planted for timber in N.W. Europe[4]. The heavy leaf-fall from this species soon suppresses any other vegetation, including rhododendrons[1] Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[2]. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value, most of these are dwarf forms[2]. Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[2]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[2]. The trees are attractive to small finches, tits and treecreepers[2].

Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Larix kaempferi. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Larix kaempferi.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Larix kaempferi
Genus
Larix
Family
Pinaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1][2][3][4]
Botanic
[8][2]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Windbreak
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    45 x 8 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO ISBN 0-11-710012-9 (1975-00-00)
    2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.102.11 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    6. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    8. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)

    "image:Larix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Larix_kaempferi&oldid=78105"
    Facts about "Larix kaempferi"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyPinaceae +
    Belongs to genusLarix +
    Functions asWindbreak +
    Has common nameJapanese Larch +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageLarix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useFire retardant +, Tannin + and Wood +
    Has mature height45 +
    Has mature width8 +
    Has primary imageLarix kaempferi (Trondheim).jpg +
    Has search namelarix kaempferi + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameLarix kaempferi +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +