Pseudolarix

( soo - doh - LAR - icks )

At-A-Glance Information

These deciduous trees need full sun and regular water to perform well in the landscape, and are native to China. There is only one extant species in its genus, Pseudolarix amabilis, which is commonly called Golden Larch. These trees reach 40-70 feet tall and nearly as broad at the base with a pyramidal habit. Foliage is feathery and young needles are light green, maturing to blue-green and turning golden yellow briefly before dropping in fall. Bare branches in winter are decorated only with cones until foliage emerges again in spring. Pseudolarix is in the plant family Pinaceae and is related to trees in the Tsuga (Hemlock) genus. Despite its common name and superficial resemblance to Larix (True Larches), it is more closely related to Cedar and Fir. Golden Larch trees perform well in USDA hardiness zones 4-7 or Sunset growing zones 2-7 and 14-17 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map). Use Golden Larch as a specimen tree in the landscape or as a subject for Bonsai.

Caring for pseudolarix

The first step in caring for a Golden Larch tree is to plant it in a place in the landscape that receives full sun exposure. They can tolerate light shade, but will grow more quickly, have denser foliage, and be healthier overall in full sun. They prefer soil to be well-draining and acidic, with a sandy or loamy texture. They do not like to have their feet wet, so ensure that local soils are well-draining or amended to be so before installing. Allow ample room for the mature size of these large trees, which can be up to 30-50 feet tall and between 20 and 30 feet wide. Apply a thick layer of mulch around plantings to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures. Water newly planted trees regularly during their first few years in the ground, Mature trees are relatively drought-tolerant, but do perform and grow best when provided with regular waterings. Water deeply during the drier months of the year.

Minimal pruning is required for these trees, and the best time to prune them is in late wintertime or early spring. At this time, remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches. Avoid excessive prunings, as this can damage the tree. These trees naturally have a handsome shape, and do not need to be shaped. Apply a dressing of organic compost to the planting area each year in springtime. This should be sufficient to provide enough nutrients for the growing season. Pseudolarix trees can survive for decades to centuries in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Pseudolarix can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. To propagate your Golden Larch tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Pseudolarix by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this mature plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new tree.

Propagating Pseudolarix by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. They are contained inside of the female cones produced by trees in fall, which begin to fall from trees when they have matured. Each cone contains between 20 and 25 seeds each.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Pseudolarix trees produce cones that resemble small Globe Artichokes and have pointed scales.

Pseudolarix cones each contain between 36 and 60 seeds total, held in pairs on woody seed scales.

Problems and Pests

Pseudolarix trees are generally considered to be quite resilient but they can suffer from time to time with the following, especially if they are not properly cared for: