Outside the window, the autumn sun is still shining, half of the leaves have not yet fallen from the trees, but soon autumn will exceed half of the time allotted to it by nature and winter will inevitably come. And what will decorate your garden and indeed the landscape surrounding the house in winter, when everything deciduous plants– trees and shrubs – will they lose their green attire? That’s right, decorative coniferous trees will become such a decoration.
If your goal is not to grow on the area around country house potatoes, but you just want to create a garden landscape pleasing to the eye, then coniferous plants, which do not require special care either in winter or in summer, will become the basis for your garden. There is simply no alternative to them.
They are very unpretentious, immune to most plant diseases, do not need fertilizing or weeding, are incredibly diverse and beautiful all year round.
Among the decorative coniferous trees special place occupied by fine-scaled larch.
This tree is endemic to the Japanese island of Honshu, i.e. natural habitat his habitat was limited to this island. This is where another name comes from – Japanese larch. In nature, the tree grows in large homogeneous tracts in the mountain forest belt at an altitude of at least 1600 m above sea level. At lower altitudes, solitary larches are found, preferring oaks, beeches and hornbeams as neighbors. In its homeland, this type of larch has been cultivated for a very long time and is a traditional object of the art of bonsai - the technique of growing a miniature copy of a real tree.
Japanese larch is well adapted to cold and dry climates and is resistant to late spring frosts. Among all larch species, it tolerates shade best. Cultivated trees grow successfully on podzolic soils and black soil, but they feel best on fresh and thick layers of clay and sandy soils.
This type of larch has slightly twisted branches and reddish-brown fissured bark that differ from its other species. Over the course of a year, the tree grows 25 cm high and 10-15 cm wide. It bears fruit from the 15th to 20th year of life. Thick and long branches of this beautiful tree are located almost horizontally and create a crown shaped like a wide pyramid.
Japanese larch often has a trunk with many peaks, its red-brown bark is not too thick. Young shoots have reddish bark covered with a bluish coating. Kidneys dark brown, shiny, blue-green needles, up to 5 cm long.
This tree has a number of features due to which the site recommends using this plant to landscape your yard:
Planting and caring for larch is carried out with the arrival of early spring; this tree needs early alienation. Planting trees on permanent place should be carried out as early as possible - the best age for this is 1-2 years. Best time for planting in early spring even before the buds open or in the fall immediately after the leaves fall.
The gaps between trees should be at least 2–4 meters. As landing sites, you should choose areas open to sunlight, but slight shading is also possible.
The tree has a branched and deep root system, providing it with high wind resistance. The planting procedure and technology for caring for Japanese larch are not too complicated; it is only important not to damage the mycorrhiza located on the thin roots. It is recommended to plant trees at a depth of 70–80 cm.
IN soil mixture leaf soil, peat and sand should be included in a ratio of 3:2:1. In heavy clay soils drainage should be provided. At the same time to the bottom landing pit a 20 cm layer of broken brick is laid.
Young seedlings can be harmed by summer drought. During this period, they should be watered twice a week, spending 15–20 liters of water per tree. Loosening should be done to a depth of 0.2 m only for young seedlings; adult trees do not need loosening. Weeds must be removed during the first few years after planting.
Japanese larch can be trimmed only at a young age; for mature trees, trimming is destructive. To protect fragile seedlings from spring frosts You can cover the trees with several layers of craft paper.
This standard tree(trunk - a vertical straight trunk from root to crown) with shoots creeping along the ground. Depending on the location of the grafting site during the formation of the crown on the trunk, the weeping form of Stif Viper (the direction of growth of branches is downward) reaches a height of 1.5–2 m with a crown diameter of up to 1 m. A beautiful-looking crown with a small number of lateral processes on branches hanging down determines the use of larch Stif Viper in the most exquisite garden compositions.
The tree looks great on sunny lawns, both alone and in mixed planting.
The needles of the Stif Viper larch variety are bluish-green and fall no earlier than late autumn. Its female cones are almost always reddish, while its male cones are yellowish. Larch
Larch Japanese landing and care photo description on the standard variety Stiff Viper Diana Kaempfer blue dwarf pendula
Latin name Larix kaempferi (Lambert) Carr.
Japanese larch Japanese larch
Japanese larch or Kaempferi d tree up to 30 m tall.
The crown diameter is 10 - 15 m. The crown is wide-pyramidal, the branches are horizontal, long and quite thick.
Trunk diameter up to 1 m.
The needles are bluish-green or blue and fall off in the fall somewhat later than those of European larch. In late autumn, the needles have a bright golden color.
Japanese larch or Kaempferi Introduced in 1861. In Japan, it is widely cultivated in the form of bonsai - as an indoor bonsai, grown in peat.
It grows somewhat faster than Siberian larch, but slower than European larch. Less demanding of light than other larch species. It is highly resistant to adverse climatic factors, pests and diseases, and city conditions. Does not tolerate stagnant water and drought.
Demanding on soil and air moisture. Winter-hardy.
Those given in a separate article are based on many years of growing experience. various types and decorative forms of spruce in Moscow, in Main botanical garden RAS
Propagated by seeds.
Has a lot garden forms: weeping, round, golden, etc.
Japanese larch cultivars:
Aureovariegata (“Aureovariegata”) - needles with yellow spots, unevenly distributed on the plant. The form was isolated in 1899 in Holland, in the nursery of B.V. Dirkena (Oudenbosch).
Blue Rabbit (“Blue Rabbit’) - narrow conical crown, bluish needles, beautiful. Grows quickly. Obtained in 1960 from the nursery of L. Konian Reyvieuk (France).
Diana (“Diamt’). Tree 8 - 10 m high, crown diameter 3 - 5 m. Branches slightly twisted in a spiral. The bark is reddish-brown, fissured. The needles are needle-shaped, tender, green, and in the fall - golden-yellow. The annual growth is 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. At a young age it grows slowly, then faster. Photophilous. It is demanding on soils, grows best on well-drained, fertile sandy loams and loams, does not tolerate stagnant moisture and drought. Frost-resistant, but may suffer from late spring frosts.
Application: single plantings, groups, alleys.
Nana (“Nana”) is a dwarf form, the crown is very dense, conical, annual growth is 5 cm. The needles are bluish-green. Found in 1976 by botanist H. Neumann among “witches' brooms” and propagated in the Jeddloch nursery in Germany.
Pendula (“Pendula”) is a weeping form, a tree 6 - 10 m high, grows slowly, the ends of the shoots are drooping. The needles are bluish-green, soft. Very decorative form, originated in 1896 in the Hess nursery. Propagated by grafting.
Belen (“Wehlen”) is a dwarf form, uneven growth, the crown is wide, very compact. Appeared from “witches’ brooms” in 1972 by G. Horstmann.
Wolterdingen (“Wolterdingeif”) - dwarf, very beautiful form, crown diameter greater than plant height. At 10 years, the height is 50 cm, the crown width is 70 cm. The shoots on the trunk are evenly distributed. The needles are bluish-green, slightly curled, 35 mm long. The form was found by G. Horstmann in 1970 in Germany and then introduced into culture.
Larch (Larix ) -genus of deciduous coniferous plants of the family. Pine. In conditions middle zone In Russia this is the only deciduous coniferous tree. Species larches are huge, powerful, fast-growing trees with a transparent through crown. The deciduousness and openwork of the crown distinguish larches from the general range of conifers and allow them to be used in design somewhat differently than evergreen species.
The genus includes about 20 species distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Tall, beautiful, fast-growing, monoecious coniferous trees with needles that fall off in the winter. In youth with a clear cone-shaped crown, in old age - widely spread. In sparse plantings and lonely standing trees- crowns are spreading, in closed ones they are raised high, relatively narrow. Branching is sparse, through. The needles are soft, narrow-linear, single on elongated shoots, arranged spirally, on short shoots - in bunches of 20 or more needles. In spring the needles are light green, in autumn they are golden-yellow. The cones are round, ovoid or almost cylindrical. They bloom annually in early spring, the cones ripen in the year of flowering. Seeds (2) under each seed scale, almost triangular, with a large leathery wing. The seeds fall out in early spring or summer of the following year, and the empty cones adorn the trees for several years.
In gardens, varietal larches obtained from Siberian larches (
L. sibirica , European ( L. decidu ) And Kaempfer (L. kaempferi ). Varieties of the latter type are distinguished by blue needles.Japanese larch, or fine-scaly, or Kaempfer- Larix leptolepis Gonf. = Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carriere - grows on the sunny, dry slopes of the mountains of Honshu (Japan). Forms pure and mixed forest stands.
A beautiful, fast-growing tree up to 35 m tall. Long, thick, almost horizontal branches form a peculiar, wide-pyramidal crown. For the most part, the multi-vertex trunk is covered with relatively thin, red-brown bark. Young shoots are reddish with a bluish bloom. The bark of the branches is gray, the buds are shiny, dark brown. The needles are long, up to 5 cm long, blue-green. The cones in their youth are yellowish-green, spherical (2-3 cm) with thin, leathery scales, bent at the top like rose petals, and remain on the branches for up to 3 years. Seed scales are numerous, thin, rosette-shaped, rounded. The seeds are small, light brown, with a dark brown wing.
The needles turn bright yellow in autumn much later than other species, creating bright spots in the plantings within a month.
Usually it does not suffer from frost; the shoots become woody completely. Quite demanding on soil conditions, prefers clay and loamy soils, light-loving, demanding on air humidity, develops well in urban conditions.
Japanese larch cultivars:
| Cultivar | DESCRIPTION |
| "Aureovariegata" ("Aureovariegata") |
Needles with yellow spots, unevenly distributed on the plant. |
| "Blue Rabbit" |
Narrow conical crown, bluish needles, beautiful. Grows quickly. |
| "Bervaes" |
The branches hang beautifully on the trunk, the ends are drooping. |
| "Diana" |
Tree 8 - 10 m high, crown diameter 3 - 5 m. Branches slightly twisted in a spiral. The bark is reddish-brown, fissured. The needles are needle-shaped, tender, green, and in the fall - golden-yellow. The annual growth is 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. At a young age it grows slowly, then faster. Photophilous. It is demanding on soils. Grows best on well-drained, fertile sandy loams and loams; it does not tolerate stagnant moisture or drought. Frost-resistant, but may suffer from late spring frosts. Application: single plantings, groups, alleys. |
| "Nana" |
Dwarf form, very thick, conical crown, annual growth of 5 cm. The needles are bluish-red. |
| "Pendula" |
A weeping form, a tree 6-10 m high, grows slowly, the ends of the shoots are drooping. The needles are bluish-green, soft. Very decorative form. Propagated by grafting. |
| "Wehlen" |
Dwarf shape, uneven growth, wide crown, very compact. |
| "Walterdingen" ("Wolterdingen") |
Dwarf, very beautiful shape, crown diameter greater than plant height. At 10, the height is 50 cm, the crown width is 70 cm. The shoots on the trunk are evenly distributed. The needles are bluish-green, slightly curled, 35 mm long. |
In decorative terms, Japanese larch surpasses all others, both with its unusual multi-story crown, and with long needles of original color and the shape of the cones. Goes well with spruce, pine, juniper, linden, oak, ash, rhododendron and others ornamental shrubs. In culture since 1861.
The growth rate, undemandingness to soil conditions and frost resistance allow this species to be widely used in green construction in group and single plantings and landscape compositions. In Japan, it is widely cultivated in the form of bonsai - as an indoor dwarf tree grown in peat.
Larches are interesting not only for the general outline of the crown, but also for the graphic nature of the branches, which is clearly visible in winter. In this regard, varieties of larches with twisted branches are extremely interesting, for example
L . kaempferi “Diana” . Varieties with weeping crowns deserve attention. A special group consists of compact dwarf forms, for example L . kaempferi “Blue Dwarf” .Location: larches are perhaps the most unpretentious of the conifers of the northern latitudes; they are able to grow even in urban conditions; they only do not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Durable. They have a well-developed root system that goes deep into the soil. They grow quickly. Smoke and gas resistant. Winter-hardy.
| Larch |
Landing: larch trees should be planted in a permanent place as early as possible, optimal time- at 1-2 years of age. Best time planting - autumn after leaf fall or early spring before buds open. The distance between plants is 2-4 m, the places are open, sunny, only Japanese larch tolerates shade. Larches easily tolerate transplantation up to 20 years of age. The root system is deep and provides complete wind resistance. Young thin roots have mycorrhiza, which is important not to damage when planting. Planting depth 70-80 cm.
The soil: undemanding to soils, grows successfully on calcareous, podzolic soils, chernozems, better on loams, poorly on sands. The soil mixture consists of leaf soil, peat and sand (3:2:1). Drainage only on heavy clays: broken brick in a layer of 20 cm.
Care: in early spring, before the shoots begin to grow, 100-120 g of Kemira/m2 are applied. Suffering from summer drought. At this time, watering is carried out with 15-20 liters per tree 1-2 times a week. Loosening is carried out only under young plantings with a depth of 20 cm, it is necessary to remove weeds. Mulching - after planting with peat or sawdust in a layer of 5-6 cm. Tolerate moderate pruning only at a young age. Adult plants are not covered, young Japanese larch trees are protected from spring frosts for the first 1-2 years after planting kraft paper.
Larches, like pines, need a relationship between roots and fungi - mycorrhiza. Some races of boletus, aspen and porcini mushrooms are most suitable for the formation of such mycorrhiza, so watering young larch with water after washing the mushrooms collected in the forest will be very effective. good help(in the most literal sense - we will plant mushroom spores on her!). You can also dig in tree trunk circle old, wormy mushrooms with obviously mature spores.
If the height of an already grafted weeping larch plant seems insufficient to you, then, like other strongly weeping forms of trees, it can be increased by “cunning”. To do this, the most powerful of the drooping shoots in the spring needs to be straightened upward, tied to a support peg. After a couple of years, this procedure can be repeated with shoots hanging from the new “top”, and the result will be an unusually decorative column of long drooping branches growing along the entire length of the new trunk.
Diseases and pests: larch leaf miner. The needles become white and flabby. Damaged shoots should be removed, and in case of severe damage, treated with a solution of any insecticidal preparation made on the basis of mineral oils.
Also a group of insects related to aphids called pine bugs. It is not difficult to recognize mealybugs - on their backs they “wear” white fibrous shields that protect them from predators. These pests can also be found on fir and spruce trees. In some dry years, when rain does not knock the scale insects to the ground, they multiply in such numbers that the branches seem to be covered with frost. With such severe damage, you should resort to insecticides.
Shoots of large larches (European, Siberian and Japanese) that have just begun to grow can be damaged by late spring frosts, but the trees recover in the same summer.
Reproduction: by seeds, because cuttings take root very poorly. Grafting is advisable only when propagating particularly valuable species and decorative forms.
The main method of propagation of species of larches is sowing seeds. To do this, at the end of autumn, cones of the current year are collected and placed in a warm, dry place, where they open and release the seeds. It is better to sow before winter in boxes with light soil, where the young plants will then spend a year or two until spring transplant to school. Larch seeds germinate rather poorly, and therefore it is better to sow thickly. In spring, the boxes are placed in a sunny place and watered regularly. Seedlings planted in time grow rapidly and in the fourth or fifth year of life reach a height of a meter and even one and a half. And already from nine to ten years old, in rich soil, young plants can begin to bear fruit.
Varieties are propagated spring grafting for seedlings, but grafting conifers is a mysterious process, its success (unless, of course, it happens in industrial greenhouses of nurseries) depends on a combination of so many climatic factors that for ordinary hobbyists it will be much more reliable to purchase a ready-made seedling of the cultivar they like.
Usage: Widely used in landscaping. They look good in alley and small group plantings in squares and parks, when creating large tracts, in pure and mixed groups. In mixed groups of different larch species, the color range of needles in spring and summer includes all shades of green: from pale green in western larch to bluish and bluish-green in Japanese larch and European larch. IN autumn period The color of the needles is mainly golden yellow tint, which is lost along with the needles at different times. For Siberian larch, the fall of needles ends in the second half of October; Siberian larch sheds its golden outfit only in November.
Partners: complex groups of larches and rhododendrons, mock oranges, lilacs, and brooms are very good. It goes well with shrubs and trees whose leaves turn red in autumn.
Japanese larch - conifer tree, grows very quickly, shedding its bluish-blue needles for the winter. Decorative culture is considered one of the most attractive and popular. from numerous gardeners. Larch is not only a very beautiful plant, but also a convenient and unpretentious plant to grow. It has such qualities as frost resistance and undemanding soil conditions.
On many Russian sections you can find Japanese larch. Its other name is Kaempfer's larch. It has long ceased to be something exotic. It is preferred to many other trees and plants because the culture looks very unusual and impressive, ideal for decorating areas. If you follow the recommendations for planting and care, it will a short time will be a worthy decoration of any landscape.
This is a unique plant. Despite its name, larch is a coniferous tree. But it combines the properties of both coniferous and deciduous species.
In contrast of coniferous spruce and pine trees is that larch needles fall off like leaves in the fall.
The plant appeared in our country not so long ago. It became known only in the second half of the 19th century. But thanks to the unusual appearance and beneficial properties has gained great popularity:
Many varieties of larch are successfully grown in our country. But the most popular of them and their descriptions are presented below.
Weeping decorative form. The Pendula variety grows relatively low tree. It reaches a height of 6-10 meters. Possesses at a slow pace growth, what attracts landscape designers, since thanks to this property the originally conceived landscape design is preserved for a long time. The branches are picturesque, hanging down to the ground. As they grow, they begin to spread over the surface, forming a green “carpet”. The needles are soft and have a bluish tint.
A coniferous species of deciduous trees on a trunk, the shoots are as long as Pendula’s and spread along the ground. The future shape and height of the Stif Viper variety is determined by the location of the grafting. Typically, such a crop is no more than 2 meters in height, with a crown diameter of 1 meter.
The needles have a bluish-green tint. On an adult tree, cones appear that differ in gender: yellow - male, red - female. The variety is capricious, does not tolerate drought at all, but stagnation of water also affects it very badly. High humidity air is also undesirable. Frost-resistant and light-loving.
A beautiful and elegant variety. It is distinguished by unusual twisted shoots and bright pink cones. Diana reaches a height of 8-10 meters, the diameter of the crown is up to 5 meters. The needles are light green in color and turn fiery yellow with the onset of autumn. The seedlings grow very quickly at first, but as they grow, the speed decreases. Prefers wet soils, frost-resistant and light-loving.
Blue Dwarf differs from others in that its needles are sky blue. In autumn they acquire a yellow tint. A dwarf and very compact variety, it grows no higher than 0.6 meters in height, the diameter of the formed crown is the same. The bark of the tree is finely scaly. Prefers sunlight or partial shade, the soil is preferably moist and nutritious. Most often this plant is used to create green hedges.
There is a way to plant larch from seeds. But this is quite a troublesome and time-consuming task. Moreover, there is no guarantee that it will take root and grow. That's why the best option- purchase a seedling and plant it on the site.
It is better to buy shoots from a nursery. The first thing you need to pay attention to when purchasing is appearance plants. If it is healthy, then it will have a developed root system, flexible and elastic trunk, needles are young and tender. If the needles have a yellowish tint, most likely the seedling is on the verge of death and should not be purchased.
Do not forget that at first the larch will grow very slowly, as the adaptation process occurs. There is no need to raise a panic and stuff it with all kinds of fertilizers. If provided proper care, gradually the tree will stretch upward and turn into a young and graceful plant.
Japanese larch is native to mountainous areas. Therefore, it is preferable to plant it at higher elevations. It also grows well in lowlands, but it should not be allowed to become swampy soil.
You can plant larch individually, but group or joint landing with others coniferous trees looks more impressive.
When choosing a planting site, it is very important to study in detail the vagaries of this tree. We must not forget that Japanese larch is a long-liver. She should choose a place where she can grow for many years and not interfere with any processes. Basic cultural requirements:
Caring for larch is absolutely not difficult. For a young plant, timely watering and loosening are important.
Only young trees need pruning. Adults retain their formed crown.
Botanical name: Japanese larch, fine-scaled, Kaempfer
Homeland of Japanese larch: Japan, Korea
Lighting: light-loving, shade-tolerant
The soil: clayey and loamy
Watering: in summer, seedlings should be watered 1-2 times a week; mature trees need watering only during dry periods
Maximum tree height: 35 m
Average lifespan of a tree: 500 years
Landing: seedlings, grafting
Japanese larch (lat. Larix leptolepis) belongs to the deciduous genus of the Pine family. This light-loving tree naturally grows on sunny, dry slopes at an altitude of 1600 to 2700 m above sea level. Most often, trees form pure or mixed forest stands.
The long, thick, almost horizontally located branches of this beautiful, fast-growing plant create a wide pyramidal crown.
Most often, Japanese larch, as seen in the photo, has a multi-vertex trunk covered with not too thick red-brown bark. Young shoots of a reddish hue are covered with a bluish coating.
The buds are dark brown, shiny, blue-green needles reach 5 cm in length.
With the onset of autumn, the needles of Japanese larch turn into bright yellow tones much later than the needles of other trees, due to this, these plants look bright, eye-catching spots in landscape compositions.
The cones of Japanese larch are spherical, yellowish-green, with leathery, thin scales, bent back like rose petals. The cones remain on the branches for up to 3 years, forming small, light brown seeds.
Trees of this species are resistant to low temperatures, but are quite demanding on soil conditions. They develop quite well in urban environments. The reproductive state is reached at the age of 15-20 years.
Its rapid growth and frost resistance make it possible to widely use Japanese larch in landscape compositions, as well as in single plantings.
Her decorative properties go well in plantings with pines, spruces, junipers, as well as lindens, ash-oaks, and many other plants. It can rightly be said that these trees are universal. Japanese weeping larch in its dwarf forms is widely cultivated in Japan in bonsai form.
Japanese larch, which is planted and cared for in early spring, requires early removal. These trees should be planted in a permanent place as early as possible - preferably at 1-2 years of age. The most favorable period for planting is early spring (before buds open) or autumn (immediately after leaf fall). The distance between plants should be at least 2-4 m. Planting location - open, sunny areas, light shading is possible.
The root system is deep and branched, which ensures high wind resistance of trees of this species. Planting and caring for Japanese larch is not too complicated, but it is important not to damage the mycorrhiza present on the thin roots. Recommended planting depth is 70-80 cm.
The soil mixture should consist of leaf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 3:2:1. On heavy clays, drainage should be used (the bottom of the planting pit is covered with broken brick layer of 20 cm).
Young seedlings may suffer from summer drought. During this period, watering should be carried out 1-2 times a week at the rate of 15-20 liters of water for each tree. Loosening is carried out only around young seedlings, to a depth of 20 cm; adult trees do not require loosening. Weeds must be removed, especially in the first years after planting.
Japanese larch (see photo) tolerates pruning only at a young age; trimming is contraindicated for mature trees. In order to protect fragile seedlings from spring frosts, you can cover the trees with craft paper.
Japanese larch “Stiff weeper” is a plant on a trunk with shoots creeping along the ground. Depending on the grafting site, the weeping form "Stif Viper" reaches 1.5-2 m in height with a diameter of up to 1 m. Beautiful, crown with a small amount lateral shoots on hanging branches makes it possible to use Japanese larch Stiff weeper in the most exquisite compositions. Looks great on sunny lawns as a single tree or in mixed plantings.
The needles of trees of the Stiff Viper variety are bluish-green, falling late autumn. Female cones are almost always red, while male cones are yellowish. Japanese larch "Stiff weeper" is very demanding on air humidity. Like all low-growing trees, it does not tolerate drought and stagnant moisture. If the summer is dry, additional evening watering is recommended.
Japanese larch "Pendula" is a weeping form, reaching a height of 6-10 m.
Trees of this variety grow slowly, which makes it possible to preserve for a long time original appearance landscape composition.
"Pendula" is a very picturesque plant. Its branches can grow to the ground and spread over it like a carpet, creating fancy, decorative patterns.
