Larix lyallii
| Larix lyallii | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 82' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Larix lyallii (common name: sub-alpine larch)
Propagation: Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[1]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[2]. 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[1]
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.
Cultivation: Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[3]. Intolerant of badly drained soils, but tolerates acid and infertile soils[3]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[3]. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south[4].
This species is very cold-hardy when fully dormant, but the trees can be excited into premature growth in Britain by mild spells during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[4]. Plants are not very successful in Britain, they have been tried on many occasions but have failed to make a satisfactory tree[5][6]. A specimen at the Hillier Arboretum was 4.5 metres tall in 1970 and suffered frost damage each year[6]. This species is impossible to grow in lowland Britain, though it should succeed above a height of 300 metres in the eastern Scottish Highlands[3]. Growth is normally slow in Britain with average height increases of less than 30cm per year[6].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3].
Closely related to L. occidentalis[3].
Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[3]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[3].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].
Range: Western N. America - Washington to British Columbia.
Habitat: Sub-alpine to alpine zones, often on north-facing slopes where snow lies until late in the season[7].
Edibility: The shoot-tips are used as a flavouring in soups[8].
Usage: The bark contains tannin[9].
Wood - strong, heavy, hard, coarse-grained and durable[10][9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.