PlantPeers
Back to Catalog
No image available
Pinaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Larix kaempferi

Larix kaempferi

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree
GrowthFast

Larix kaempferi is found at higher elevations in central Japan where the climate is cold, with snowy winters and abundant rain in cool summers[1]. It is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant[2]. Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[2]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate acid and infertile soils[2]. This species of Larix is usually found wild on better quality soils, often of recent volcanic origin, and is never found wild on peat soils[3]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[2]. 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 mild maritime areas by mild spells during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[4]. Slow growing for its first two or three years from seed, it is then very vigorous making between 1 and 1.5 metres increase in height a year[5]. The belief that older trees do not do so well is erroneous, 50 year old specimens in Britain are still growing rapidly[5]. Trees have been planted for timber in N.W. Europe[6]. The heavy leaf-fall from this species soon suppresses any other vegetation, including rhododendrons[5] Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[2]. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value, most of these are dwarf forms[2]. Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[2]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[2]. The trees are attractive to small finches, tits and treecreepers[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[7]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[8]. 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[7] 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. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Larix+kaempferi>

Pollinators

Wind

References

  1. [1]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]A Handbook of the World's Conifers Vol. 1 (Second revised edition) — Farjon A. · Brill; Leiden, The Netherlands · 2017 · ISBN 978 90 04 32449 7 ↩︎
  4. [4]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  5. [5]Conifers in the British Isles. — Mitchell. A. F. · HMSO · 1975 · ISBN 0-11-710012-9 ↩︎A bit out of date (first published in 1972), but an excellent guide to how well the various species of conifers grow in Britain giving locations of trees.
  6. [6]Flora Europaea — ? · Cambridge University Press · 1964 · ISBN - ↩︎An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
  7. [7]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  8. [8]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  9. [9]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  10. [10]Flora of Japan. (English translation) — Ohwi. G. · Smithsonian Institution · 1965 · ISBN - ↩︎The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
  11. [11]The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. — Elias. T. · Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. · 1980 · ISBN 0442238622 ↩︎A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.