Choosing Larch

Alanm6

I,m about to purchase 4 larch 30-50cm from a nursery and I am not sure which is the best choice for bonsai Larix decidua (European) or Larix leptolepis (Japanese)
advice appreciated
Thanx.

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Ang3lFir3

The good news in that both are used in Bonsai. Many fine larches I have personally seen were most often Japanese Larch though I have also seen some amazing European Larch examples.

My advice would be to purchase whichever specimens have the most value as bonsai. Mix and match and find the ones with the most potential. They will all work quite well.

For some additional information: http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Larix.html

Dav4

As an aside, I believe 'Larix kaempferi' is the more current/most frequently used latin name for the Japanese larch.


Dave

ianb

Depending on where you live, you may have trouble. Larch does not do well in warmer areas (zone 7+).

Cheers
Ian

Ang3lFir3

Ian I'm not certain that I can agree. From my experience here in WA (zone 8b) larches seem to do exceptionally well. Daniel has some magnificent larches at Elandan Gardens and Nick Lenz's larch(es) in the Pacific Rim collection do just fine.

We however live in a unique climate and so their success may be due to this particular area.

rockm

Larch will fade away here in Zone 7 in Va. I have tried to grow larch a couple of times here. I think it has alot to do with the long hot summers here where nighttime temperatures don't dip below 70 for months. Larch that are extremely healthy when I got them have faded away to nothing in a couple of years. I'm apparently on the dividing line here on the East coast where larch can grow. Just 30 miles to the North in Maryland, they do fine...

ianb

Sorry, as Mark said I should have qualified that to reflect my experience in the hot/humid east coast zone 7. Can't speak for you lucky West coasters.

Ian

zube

I live on the west coast, zone 8. I've had several Japanese larch for quite a few years and they seem to do just fine here. We do not have the extended hot weather in the summer that Mark spoke of. I believe the zone 8 is more a factor of the lower temperatures here, which are occasionally below freezing in the winter, but usually no worse than that.
Good luck,
zube

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anttal63

just my 2 bob gents. i havent had enough experience yet only got my first one 5 months ago in winter. so far so good but the real hot weather is yet to hit.
i believe the japanese variety is the hardier of the 2. i will be treating mine like a maple over summer moring sun and late afternoon only. keep right away from hot north winds. i also am using fast drain soil and watering every day. we are only now starting to hit the 30's c. as it gets higher i will water day and night, in order to keep its roots cool . i stress keep its roots cool.i will keep posted through summer let you all know how im going with it. i live in zone 9.

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