European larch

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[11, 200]. It tolerates acid and infertile soils, though it dislikes very peaty or very chalky soils. Another report says that it tolerates chalky soils. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes. Tolerates salt-laden gales according to one report whilst another says that it dislikes exposed positions. The larch dislikes atmospheric pollution and so does not grow well in towns. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south. It dislikes growing in wet ground or frost pockets[11, 81], and grows best in areas with abundant rainfall. The larch is a very ornamental tree that is widely grown for forestry[11, 81]. It is very fast growing with new annual growth of 1.5 metres often found and trees can average 60cm or more for many years. The dormant trees are very cold hardy, but they are often excited into premature growth in Britain by mild spells during the winter, the plants are then subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[1, 185]. The young shoots have a delicate mossy fragrance as the leaves unfold. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[81, 200]. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms. References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information Temperature Converter Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit: Celsius Fahrenheit: The PFAF Bookshop Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants , Edible Perennials , Edible Trees , Edible Shrubs , Woodland Gardening , and Temperate Food Forest Plants . Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical) . Shop Now

Edible Parts: Inner bark Manna Edible Uses: Inner bark - it can be eaten raw or can be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in making bread etc[2, 177]. A sweet-tasting manna is obtained from the trunk, it can be eaten raw but is mainly used medicinally[2, 7, 46, 61, 105]. Another report says that 'Briancon manna' is exuded from the leaves in the summer. It is white, sweet and almost odourless. References More on Edible Uses

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year. 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 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.