European larch (Larix decidua)

Second place champion European larch in Denver at South High School.

Species info:

Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblong with 5–7 rounded lobes and deep sinuses; margins entire or shallowly notched. Upper surface dark green and glossy; underside paler and softly hairy.

Leaflets: None (simple leaf).

Leaf Surface: Shiny and smooth above; pubescent and lighter below.

Bark: Gray and scaly on younger stems; becomes rough and deeply furrowed on mature trunks.

Flowers: Inconspicuous; separate male and female catkins on the same plant (monoecious).

Fruit: Acorns 0.9–1.8 cm long, short-stalked, set one-third to halfway into a rough-scaled cup.

Botanical: Quercus gambelii

Family: Fagaceae

Mature Height: 60–70+ feet in Colorado; some specimens exceed 70 feet

Canopy Spread: 25–45 feet at maturity

Foliage Type: Deciduous conifer

Tree Shape: Gracefully pyramidal with drooping branchlets when young; becoming more open and rigid with age

Growth Rate: Fast; up to 2 feet per year in favorable conditions

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Fruit: Cones

Fall Color: Bright yellow to orange *leaves are deciduous

Water Use: Moderate to high

Hardiness: Zones 3A–6; very cold-hardy

Soil Preference: Prefers acidic, well-drained, established soils; struggles in highly alkaline or compacted soils

Sun Exposure: Full sun, but requires cooler microclimates; avoid reflective heat

Wildlife Value: Provides cover and habitat; cones offer limited food value for small wildlife

Pests/Pathogens: No significant pests or diseases observed in Colorado

Planting Recommendations: Recommended for some sites along the Front Range in areas where it is protected from heat; nursery scarcity is limiting

Information Sources:

• Front Range Tree Recommendation List

• Michael A. Dirr. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press. 2011.

• Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)

• Michael Dirr, Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs (1997)

• Edward F. Gilman, Trees for the Urban and Suburban Landscapes (1997)

• Botanica’s Trees & Shrubs (Botanica, 1999)