Skip to main content
Woodland Trust Woodland Trust home page Become a member

European larch (Larix decidua)

A spring-time show-off, European larch is a conifer full of surprises. Introduced over 400 years ago, it’s a favourite with squirrels, birds and moths alike.

After pollination, female structures ripen into brown cones.

Credit: David Forster / Alamy Stock Photo

Its leaves are light green, soft and needle-like.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

Its leaves turn golden yellow before falling in autumn.

Credit: Rebecca Cole / Alamy Stock Photo

Its female structures are often referred to as 'larch roses'.

Credit: Tim Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo

Larch trees can live for up to 250 years.

Credit: Chris Mattison / Alamy Stock Photo

Its needles form clusters, like rosettes, along the twigs.

Credit: Margaret Barton / WTML

European larch originates in central Europe.

Credit: Jane Corey / WTML

Twigs are hairless and amber or slightly pink in colour.

Credit: Shaun Nixon / WTML

Its bark is pinkish-brown and thick, developing wide vertical fissures with age.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

Its cones gradually open their scales to release winged seeds which are distributed by the wind.

Credit: Geoff Scott Simpson / naturepl.com

Quick facts

Common names: larch, European larch

Scientific name: Larix decidua

Family: Pinaceae

Origin: non-native

Mature larch can grow to 30m and live for 250 years. It is fairly fast growing and cone-shaped when young, becoming broad with age. The bark is pinkish-brown in colour and thick, and develops wide vertical fissures with age. Twigs are amber or slightly pink, and hairless.

Look out for: the needles which form in clusters, like rosettes, along the twigs.

Identified in winter by: the small oval cones that remain on the tree, and the loss of its needle-like leaves.

What does European larch look like?

Credit: Margaret Barton / WTML

Leaves

Light green leaves are soft and needle-like, 2–4cm long, and grow in tufts from short woody knobs, or shoots, on the twigs. They turn golden yellow before falling in autumn.

Credit: Tim Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo

Reproductive cones

Male structures form on the underside of shoots, and are globular clusters of creamy-yellow anthers. Female structures grow at the tips of shoots and are often referred to as ‘larch roses’. They comprise flower-like clusters of scales in pink, green or white.

Credit: Geoff Scott Simpson / naturepl.com

Seed cones

After pollination by wind, the female cones ripen, become brown and grow to around 3–4cm long with a hollow top. They gradually open their scales to release the winged seeds within which are distributed by wind.

Trees woods and wildlife

Identify trees with our Tree ID app

Download our free Tree ID app for Android and iPhone to identify the UK's native and non-native trees. It's an A-Z tree guide in your pocket.

Download the app

Where to find European larch

European larch originates in central Europe but is now widespread in the UK, having been planted for timber.

This tree is a favourite for wildlife.

Credit: Rebecca Cole / Alamy Stock Photo

Did you know?

Larch trees can retain old cones on their stems for many years.

Value to wildlife

The seeds of the European larch are eaten by red squirrels and a number of birds, including the siskin and lesser redpoll, while the buds and immature cones are eaten by black grouse. The caterpillars of many moths feed on the foliage, including the case-bearer moth and larch pug. Larch tortrix moth caterpillars eat the cone scales.

Wildlife which benefits from larch:

Mythology and symbolism

In European folklore, larch was said to protect against enchantment. The wearing and burning of larch was thought to protect against evil spirits.

Larch is the only deciduous conifer in Europe. Before they fall, the needles turn a bright bronze-yellow in autumn.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

Did you know?

Larch is very hardy, so hardy that some species were thought to be impenetrable by fire.

Uses of European larch

European larch was one of the first trees to be introduced to the UK for its timber and has a pale, creamy-brown sapwood and a red-brown heartwood. It is hard and resistant to rot.

Threats and conservation

Larch is susceptible to the fungal disease larch canker. It can also be affected by larch bark beetle and butt rot fungus. Most recently it has been affected by the ramorum disease, which affects and kills Japanese larch trees and is spreading throughout western parts of the UK.