Common Name: Golden Larch

General Information

Pseudolarix amabilis is a deciduous tree with horizontal branches forming a broadly conical crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is generally 30 - 60cm in diameter in cultivation, but can be up to 300cm in diameter in older specimens in the wild[, ].
The tree yields a good quality timber but, due to its rarity and slow rate of growth, the timber is mainly used locally, It is an excellent ornamental tree with its attractive crown and golden autumn colour[].
Pseudolarix amabilis has a fairly restricted range, the population is severely fragmented and there is continuing decline in the quality of the habitat and number of mature individuals. Habitat is being cleared for agricultural expansion, there would have been logging in the past, and the lack of regeneration (observed in one famous site) does not bode well for the future of this species. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China (Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang).

Habitat

Evergreen and deciduous, broad-leaved mixed, forests; at elevations from 100-1,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pseudolarix amabilis prefers a continental climate with hot summers and a clear distinction between winter and spring. It is a difficult tree to grow well in temperate regions with cool summers. When well ripened by hot summers the dormant tree can tolerate temperatures down to around -20°c with little or no damage, but in cooler regions young shoots can be scorched or killed by temperatures of -5°c[]. Plants grow best in moister regions with a mean annual rainfall of around 1,000mm[].
Best grown in a warm sheltered site on a deep fertile soil with a pH between 5 and 6[]. Plants dislike dry winds and soils that dry out readily[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Best planted out when 30 - 80cm tall, it needs to be kept weed free until established and might require winter protection for its first few years[].
There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[].

The stem bark is used in the treatment of ringworm[].

The bark shows fungicidal activity against the parasitic Epidermophyton and Trichphyton fungi that cause ringworm[].

Other Uses

The wood is used for furniture, boat building, and bridges[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a cold greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.