Understanding the Larch Tree

At Cold Stream Farm, we offer a diverse selection of trees and shrubs that, we believe, hold the potential of seriously beautifying wherever they are planted.

Each tree has its own set of unique qualities that provide something different to our clients and this week, Cold Stream Farm is highlighting the Larch tree.

With the Larch tree, we have a large deciduous tree that sprouts short needles and cones throughout the year. The conifer’s clusters usually hold 30 or 40 needles, which are short — only about an inch, or so — and they are first red and yellow, and then turn brown. Inside are small pink flowers, which grow into cones.

Typically, you’d find Larch trees in colder climates, and are better suited for moist, mountainous areas — they’re common in Northern Europe, Asia, and Canada. At full span, the Larch tree is big: it grows up to 80 feet, and spreads about 50 feet wide. It’ll look like a spruce and is perfect for parks or rural areas where a large canopy is of need. Some lower branches may sag a bit, but as you get higher up, the branches stand firm.

What we love most about the Larch tree is just how it changes over time. In spring and summer, it appears like an evergreen, with its needles sprouting. And then, as the leaves change, so does the Larch’s, turning a golden shade, and then dropping to the ground, just like foliage. It is a living tree, one that very much adjusts to the seasons, and will add a unique element to any setting that it’s planted in.

For more information on the Larch trees that we offer, contact us at Cold Stream Farm today!