Larix sibirica
| Larix sibirica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 1 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 98' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Larix sibirica (common name: siberian 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]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate 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]. The tree often comes into growth in January or February and is then very susceptible to frost damage[5]. A 56 year old tree at Kew in 1956 had only reached 4 metres tall and was dying[5]. 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[3].
Growth is normally slow in Britain with average height increases of less than 30cm per year[5]. Trees are planted for timber in Asia and Northern Europe, especially in Sweden and Finland[6][7].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[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: Northern Europe to northern Asia.
Habitat: Mountains and lowland taiga at elevations of 500 - 3500 metres in Xinjiang province of China[7].
Usage: The bark is a commercial source of tannin in N. Europe[8]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 21.2% tannin[8].
Wood - strong, heavy and durable. Used for construction, bridge building, vehicles, poles, and making furniture[6][9][7].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall-Late Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: L. sibirica. Ledeb.
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 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rottsieper, E. Vegetable Tannins. The Forestal Land, 1946.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.