WESTERN LARCH
larix occidentalis

• Western Larch is also known as Mountain Larch, Western Tamarack, Hackmatack

• Western Larchcan grow for up to 850 years
• The larch is unique in that it has needles but also drops them like leaves in the fall
• The thick bark and its habit of shedding lower branches makes the Western Larch resistant to fire

• Western Larch are found in the southern interior of British Columbia, primarily in valleys and on lower mountain slopes
• Western Larch needs an area in full sunlight
• Western Larch is sensitive to frost damage so low temperatures restrict its distribution

• Western Larch can grow up to 80 metres

• long, reddish-brown
• white hairs on the scales
• pollen cones are yellow

• young - soft green
• mature - yellow
• long, in bunches of 15 to 30

• thick grooved plate-like on mature trees
• cinnamon coloured scales

• one of the strongest in Canada

• modern - heavy construction, railway ties, pilings
• traditional - pitch: cosmetic, pain