Common Name: Dahurian Larch

General Information

Larix gmelinii is a deciduous tree with a broad, pyramidal crown that becomes open, flat-topped and irregular with age; it can grow around 30 - 35 metres tall with a trunk 100 - 150cm in diameter[].
Dahurian larch is an extremely important timber tree in the Russian Far Eas where its wood is used for a wide range of purposes. It is also cultivated as a timber tree outside its native range; is used in afforestation projects, and is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].
Larix gmelinii is an extremely widespread species, the global population of which must count in the hundreds of millions of trees. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

e. Asia - eastern Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, northern and eastern China, Korea

Habitat

Forms dense forests at high elevations[]. Hills, mountains, rocky slopes, peatlands, swamps, lowland sub-arctic plains, river basins and valleys; at elevations from 300 - 2,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Larix gmelinii is a very cold-hardy species, being native to cold continental and sub-arctic-regions. It is the only tree in eastern Siberia that is found as far north as 70°N. Whenn fully dormant it can tolerate temperatures down to -50°c or lower, but in milder regions the trees can be excited into premature growth by mild spells of weather during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[]. In the colder parts of its range the mean annual rainfall can be no more than 400 - 500mm, rising to 1,000mm or more in milder areas[].
Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate acid and infertile soils[]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[]. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
The plant is cultivated as a timber crop and for re-afforestation in Asia. It is also grown as an ornamental[]. Provenances from Siberia, which can be excited into growth and then frost-damaged by mild weather in the winter are only suitable for cold, continental and sub-arctice climates, but thos provenances from the more maritime regions of Far East Russia are far less likely to be damaged by late frosts and are therefore more suitable for cultivation in warmer parts of the temperate zone[].
Growth is normally slow in Britain with average height increases of less than 30cm per year[].
Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used in afforestation projects[].

Other Uses

Resin is extracted by tapping the trunk. It is obtained from near the centre of the trunk[], one properly made borehole can be used for 20 - 30 years[]. The resin has a wide range of uses including wood preservatives, medicinal etc. The hole is made in the spring and the resin extracted in the autumn[]. The yield is about 40 grams per tree[].

The bark contains tannin[, , ].

Wood - hard, durable. Used in construction, water pipes, mine props, beams etc[, , ]. An extremely important timber tree in the Russian Far East, where it provides building logs for traditional log houses, railway sleepers, fences, and gates, as well as timber for construction, ship building (in Japan and Sachalin), and the pulp industry[]. Its variability also extends to the suitability as a plantation tree for forestry outside its natural range; provenances from Siberia are prone to ‘late’ frosts (which actually means: lack of a proper cold winter that lasts until spring definitively arrives), while those of Japan and even Sakhalin are less likely to be frost damaged. Inter-specific hybrids have been produced in cultivation in Denmark and China, but probably have not been planted far beyond the trial nurseries. Due to the risk of frost damage this species and its varieties are rare in cultivation in more temperate parts of the world[].
The wood is valued as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[]. 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[]
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.