Larix decidua
Scientific Name – Larix decidua
The European Larch is the only deciduous conifer. It is native to the Alps of eastern France, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Southern Germany, the Sudetan Mountains of the Czech Republic and the Tatra mountains of Romania. It is now widely grown as a commercial forest crop. Introduced into the UK c.1620 and widely planted in shelter belts, gardens and parks but seldom in large towns. The bark is greenish grey and smooth at first, becoming deeply fissured. Old trees standing alone often have a pink brown tinge with deep, scaly ridges. The tree produces beautiful fresh green growth in the Spring and golden tints in Autumn before the needles fall.
The trees listed *Champion are considered to be among the finest of their species to be found in Europe