Kaempfer larch

Japanese larch is the brightest and most beautiful representative of the Pine family. Thanks to beautifully colored needles, unpretentiousness in care and rapid growth, the plant is widely used in landscaping a personal plot. Kaempfer larch prefers to grow in a sunny place, harmonizes perfectly with ornamental shrubs, junipers and other conifers. The uniqueness of the species lies in the fact that it has features of deciduous and coniferous trees.

Description of Japanese larch

Japanese larch Kaempfera is a deciduous coniferous plant native to the island of Honshu. In Our Country, the species is known recently, but has already gained great popularity. Kaempfer larch can grow in cold and dry climates, tolerates recurrent spring frosts, and is unpretentious in care.

Japanese larch is a tall conifer that reaches a height of up to 30 m. The plant has a powerful trunk with a thin, peeling bark and long, slightly spiraling branches. At the beginning of winter, annual shoots acquire a brown-lemon color with a blue bloom, adult shoots turn dark brown.

Kaempfer larch is a fast growing plant, annual growth is 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. The pyramidal crown is covered with bluish-emerald blunt needles reaching a length of up to 15 mm. In autumn, the needles turn a light lemon color, thereby giving a decorative look to the backyard.

Fruiting occurs at 15 years of age. Kaempfera is covered with round-oval cones 30 mm long, arranged in 5-6 rows. The fruits are formed from thin scales and can stay on the shoots for up to 3 years, forming light brown small seeds.

Japanese larch has strong wood, so the plant is widely used in the woodworking industry. Furniture, souvenirs, window frames and door leafs are made from it. Wood is also used for the construction of private houses, as it has bactericidal properties, freshens the air and drives away pests and parasites.

Japanese larch differs from other types of vitality, durability and great immunity to diseases. It can also withstand severe frosts, slight drought and sudden changes in temperature and humidity.

Growing Kaempfer larch, you can stock up on valuable natural gifts that cope with many diseases:

• resin or resin quickly heals wounds, heals abscesses, boils and carbuncles;
• young needles strengthen the immune system and quickly recover from colds;
• a decoction of the shoots soothes joint pain, treats bronchitis and pneumonia.

Kempfer larch in landscape design

Japanese larch is the main plant in landscape design for many homeowners. Since the tree is decorative, unpretentious, tends to change color, has fast growth and durability.

In garden compositions, Japanese larch is planted in coniferous gardens, next to juniper, used in single and group plantings. Diana larch on the trunk is distinguished by its unique beauty. A properly formed tree is a beautiful waterfall of hanging branches, located on a perfectly even trunk. Japanese larch Diana will look great in rock gardens, front gardens, flower beds and as an openwork hedge.

Varieties of Japanese larch

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, several varieties of Kaempfer larch have been bred. They differ in size, needle color, crown shape and maintenance requirements. Among the popular varieties, everyone can choose one that will harmoniously look on the plot among other plants.

Kaempfer Larch Diana

Diana (Diana) – a tall variety, under favorable conditions grows up to 10 m. The plant is in demand among homeowners for its luxurious look. Diana Japanese larch has spiral shoots and bright pink miniature buds. The weeping crown is covered with delicate, soft needles, which in summer are painted in light emerald color, in autumn – in bright lemon.

In the first few years, young Kaempfer larch grows very quickly, then development slows down. Diana prefers to grow in moist, alkaline soil.

In landscape design, Kaempfer larch of the Diana variety is used in single and group plantings, in coniferous gardens, next to ornamental shrubs and surrounded by perennial flowers.

Japanese larch Stif Viper

The Japanese larch Stiff Weeper is a stem tree with creeping shoots. The variety is undersized, reaches a height of 2 m, a width of 1 m. A beautiful crown is formed by hanging side shoots, so the variety is in demand and looks great in any garden compositions.

The needles of the Japanese Kaempfer Larch Stif Viper are sky-green in color, fall off after the first frost. The female buds are red, while the male buds are lemon green.

Japanese Larch BlueDwarf

Kaempfer Larch Blue Dwarf is a dwarf variety with a hemispherical crown, up to 2 m high. The plant is slow-growing, annual growth is about 4 cm. In spring, the tree is covered with soft, dense needles of a bluish-emerald color, in autumn it changes color to rich yellow.

At the end of summer, small red cones with thin, slightly recurved scales appear on the larch. In winter, larch sheds its needles, but cones that stay on the branches for several years give decorativeness.

The variety is frost-resistant, loves fertile, drained soil. Does not tolerate drought and low humidity.

On the backyard, it harmoniously looks in rocky and coniferous gardens, in rock gardens, in a mixborder. Young specimens lend themselves well to pruning, so they can be formed as a standard tree. The original shape is suitable for creating alleys and contrasting compositions of ornamental trees and shrubs.

Japanese larch Blue Rabbit

Japanese larch Blue Rabbit is a tall variety with a pyramidal crown. Adult specimens in favorable conditions reach up to 15 m. The variety got its name for the blue color of the needles, which becomes golden-red in autumn.

The tree is cold-resistant, so it can be grown in all regions of Our Country. Kaempfera Blue Rabbit is a fast-growing variety, resistant to gas pollution, retains a decorative appearance throughout its life. Kaempfer Blue Rabbit larch prefers to grow in well-drained, breathable soil with high air humidity.

Kaempfer Larch Pendula

Pendula Japanese larch is a medium-sized variety, the height of the tree reaches 6 m. The slow-growing tree forms long, strongly drooping branches, which cover the ground with a coniferous carpet with age.

Soft, fluffy sky-emerald needles give a decorative look. Pendula is not demanding on the care and composition of the soil, but, like other larch varieties, it does not tolerate dry and waterlogged soil.

Planting and caring for Japanese larch

Kaempfer larch is a decorative long-liver with beautifully colored needles. To grow a beautifully growing tree, you need to decide on the variety, choose the right site for planting and observe timely care.

Seedling and planting preparation

Japanese larch seedlings are best purchased from nurseries. When buying, you need to pay attention to:

• rhizome, it should be well developed;
• the trunk must be flexible and resilient, without signs of rot and mechanical damage;
• the needles are rich green, if it is colored brown or dark brown, then the plant is at the stage of death, it is not worth acquiring such a seedling.

Japanese larch is a long-liver that does not tolerate transplantation well. Therefore, when choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account that the plant will grow in one place for about 15-20 years.

Kaempfer larch grows well and develops in an open, sunny place. Thanks to a powerful, well-developed branched root system, it can grow in open space, without fear of strong gusty winds.

The soil for planting should be nutritious, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic. Since the plant does not tolerate waterlogging, the planting site should be located on top and away from water bodies.

Rules of landing

Experts recommend planting seedlings in spring, when the soil warms up to + 12 ° C. Work is best done in the evening:

1. A landing pit is dug 80 cm deep. A 15 cm drainage layer (expanded clay or broken brick) is laid on the bottom.
2. When planting several copies, the distance between the landing holes should be at least 2-4 m. The interval depends on the size and shape of the crown.
3. At the seedling, the root system is straightened and set in the center of the planting pit.
4. The hole is filled with nutrient soil, tamping each layer to avoid the formation of air voids.
5. The top layer is compacted, mulched and spilled. At least 10 liters of water are consumed per copy.

Watering and top dressing

Abundant and frequent watering is necessary for a young plant for 2 years. Irrigation is carried out 2 times in 7 days at the rate of a bucket of water per 1 seedling. As the root system grows, watering is carried out only in dry summers. During the hot summer, the plant will not refuse irrigation by sprinkling. This will increase the humidity of the air and give a healthy and decorative look to the needles.

Every year, before sap flow, top dressing is carried out with liquid fertilizers, which are specially designed for conifers. In order not to burn the root system, fertilizers are diluted and applied strictly according to the instructions.

Mulching and loosening

After each watering, a shallow loosening of the soil is carried out. To retain moisture, stop the growth of weeds, the trunk circle is mulched. Straw, fallen leaves, sawdust, needles or rotted humus are suitable as mulch. The layer of mulch should be at least 7 cm.

Trimming

In the first 2-3 years after planting, formative pruning is carried out, giving the crown a decorative look. Mature plants need regular sanitary pruning. In the spring, non-overwintered, mechanically damaged and dried shoots are removed.

Low-growing varieties are often used to create a standard tree. In this case, the formation is carried out throughout the season.

Preparation for winter

Kaempfer larch is a frost-resistant species, so plants aged 6 years do not need shelter for the winter. To protect young larch from upcoming frosts, you must:

• cover the crown, trunk and branches with breathable material;
• insulate the root system with spruce branches or sawdust.

Reproduction

Japanese larch can be propagated by cuttings, grafting and seeds. Cuttings and grafting are complex and time-consuming processes, so they are not suitable for a novice gardener. Most often, such reproduction is used in nurseries and garden centers. Under favorable conditions, the root system of the cuttings quickly grows, the graft heals, and for 2 years the plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Propagation by seeds:

1. In autumn, before the beginning of leaf fall, cones are collected and put in a warm place for ripening. Maturity is determined by open scales.
2. The collected seeds are soaked in warm water for 2 days. To avoid joining the infection, every 5 hours it is necessary to change the water.
3. The prepared container is filled with preheated, nutritious soil.
4. The seed is deepened by 4-6 mm.
5. The soil is spilled, the container is covered with polyethylene and cleaned in a warm, sunny place.

Under such conditions, a Japanese larch seedling develops for 1,5 years, after which it can be transferred to a prepared place.

Diseases and pests

Japanese larch has strong immunity to many diseases. But if the rules of care are not followed, the larch can be struck by:

• larch moth;
• coniferous worm;
• aphid;
• cover-bearing caterpillars;
• bark beetles;
• larch sawfly.

If treatment is not started in a timely manner, growth and development of the Japanese larch stops, decorative effect is lost, the metabolic process is disturbed, the tree is depleted and dies. When pests appear, it is necessary to treat with insecticides, such as: Karbofos, Fozalon, Decis.

Among fungal diseases, rust and shute are considered the most dangerous. For treatment, fungicides, Bordeaux liquid or any copper-containing preparation are used.

Conclusion

Japanese larch is a godsend for lovers of conifers. But before choosing a variety, it is necessary to take into account the height and shape of the crown, as this directly affects the decorativeness of the planting. Care requirements, cold hardiness and disease resistance should also be assessed.