Common Name: Siberian Larch

General Information

Larix sibirica is an erect, deciduous tree with a broad conical, often irregular crown; it can grow around 30 - 40 metres tall with a straight or curved trunk 100 - 150cm in diameter[].
Siberian larch is an important timber tree in Russia, where it is logged from natural coniferous forests as well as from plantations. It is also cultivated in Finland, Poland and Sweden[]. The tree is used in afforestation projects and is cultivated as an ornamental[].
Larix sibirica is too widespread and abundant to qualify for any threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern Eurasia - European Russia to eastern Siberia, Mongolia and western China (Xinjiang)

Habitat

Mountains and lowland taiga forest; at elevations from 500 - 3,500 metres[]. Growing together with other conifers or, especially in mountains, in pure, fairly open stands, preferring stony or sandy, generally dry soils[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Larix sibirica is native to northern Eurasia, often growing at the northern limit of trees. The climate is very cold, continental or subarctic,
dry, with very long wintes and temperatures falling as low as -55°c[].
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[].
This species is very cold-hardy when fully dormant, but the trees can be excited into premature growth in mild maritime regions by mild spells during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[]. The tree often comes into growth in mid winter and is then very susceptible to frost damage[]. A 56 year old tree at Kew in 1956 had only reached 4 metres tall and was dying[]. It is impossible to grow this tree in lowland Britain, though it should succeed above a height of 300 metres in the eastern Scottish Highlands[].
Growth is normally slow in Britain with average height increases of less than 30cm per year[]. Trees are planted for timber in Asia and Northern Europe, especially in Sweden and Finland[, ].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
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

Resin from the trunk is valued in Siberia as a chewing gum[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used in afforestation projects[].

Other Uses

The bark is a commercial source of tannin in N. Europe[]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 21.2% tannin[].

A glue can be made from the foliage[]. It is extracted on a commercial basis in Siberia[].

Wood - strong, heavy and durable. A very heavy wood, it sinks in water[]. Used for construction, bridge building, railway sleepers, vehicles, poles, veneer, for making furniture[, , ]. It is used traditionally to make log houses in Siberia, for which the wood is roughly hewn to shape, but left untreated[].

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.