- Author: Karen Metz
In early July my husband and I were in Renton Washington, a community near Seattle. We went for a late afternoon walk along a lakeside park called Coulon Beach Park. It's a lovely park that is beautifully landscaped. And it's somewhat unique in that you have the juxtaposition of boats and docks with the sight of numerous airplanes, lined up and waiting, on a tarmac at the edge of Lake Washington. Renton is a manufacturing site for Boeing 737 airplanes.
As we walked along the trail I was intrigued by a large, finely needled tree with strings of tiny cones hanging down. They reminded me of those wooden beaded curtains we used to hang in doorways in the 1970s. Looking at the ground, I saw the little cones everywhere. I searched for a marker and was thrilled to find the park's specimens were very well labeled.
Now tree identification has never been my strong point. I am used to having to look things up. But usually, when I do, I am at least familiar with the name. Not this time; it was European Larch, Larix decidua. Research was in order.
Well, it turns out that Larches, also known as Tamaracks, are in the Pine Family, but are the only members of that family to lose their needles in winter, i.e. to be deciduous. Their needles are soft, grow in clusters and turn a soft yellow in the fall before dropping off. Their cones can remain on the tree for years. They require full sun and regular water.
The Larch species vary in height and cone size. The European Larch grows 30 to 60 feet tall and can be grown in Sunset Zones A1-A3, 1-9, and 14-17. The Western Larch, Larix occidentalis, is native to the United States North West and British Columbia. It is a much taller straighter tree, often over 100 feet, and used for lumber. The Park had many different species of Larch planted. I would love to go back in autumn and see their fall colors.
In the meantime, I have enjoyed being introduced to a new tree and suspect I may have gained a new word for Lexulous or Scrabble. The following web address is for a wonderful article on Larches by Susan Mahr with beautiful photographs. It is on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master Gardener website.
https://wimastergardener.org/article/european-larch-larix-decidua/