European Larch (larix decidua)
SKU:
£1.35
£1.35 - £35.00
per item
Seed Prices
0.5 grams (approx 85 seeds) £1.35
1 gram (approx 170 seeds) £1.95
2 grams(approx 340 seeds) £3.50
5 grams (approx 850 seeds) £8.00
10 grams (approx 1700 seeds) £15.00
25 grams (approx 4250 seeds) £35.00
EuropeanSelect Stand
Use the drop down button below to select the quantity
The larch is a very ornamental tree that is native to the mountains of central Europe. It is widely grown for forestry and is very fast growing, often making new annual growth of 1.5 metres (5ft) It establishes itself rapidly and is known to improve the quality of the soil, Larch can be used as a pioneer species on cleared and exposed land in order to assist the establishment of other woodland trees
The needles are a delightful light green when they emerge in Spring turning bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil but not waterlogged ones and can tolerate maritime exposure but not atmospheric pollution and does not grow well in cities.
The crown is conic when young, becoming broad with age, the main branches are level or slightly upswept, with the side branches often pendulous. It prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil. It tolerates acid and infertile soils, though it dislikes very peaty or very chalky soils. It dislikes growing in wet ground or in frost pockets. It is very cold tolerant when dormant and is able to survive winter temperatures down to at least -50°C
For germination the seeds require a period of moist pre-chilling also known as stratification before the seeds should be sown, this takes around 6 weeks in the fridge and is not difficult to do!
Germination and after care information sent free with every order.
The needles are a delightful light green when they emerge in Spring turning bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil but not waterlogged ones and can tolerate maritime exposure but not atmospheric pollution and does not grow well in cities.
The crown is conic when young, becoming broad with age, the main branches are level or slightly upswept, with the side branches often pendulous. It prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil. It tolerates acid and infertile soils, though it dislikes very peaty or very chalky soils. It dislikes growing in wet ground or in frost pockets. It is very cold tolerant when dormant and is able to survive winter temperatures down to at least -50°C
For germination the seeds require a period of moist pre-chilling also known as stratification before the seeds should be sown, this takes around 6 weeks in the fridge and is not difficult to do!
Germination and after care information sent free with every order.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
European Larch (larix decidua)
Seeds of European Larch are relatively easy to germinate and grow. The dormancy within the seed is short and easily broken. This is achieved by a short period of stratification which usually needs to be done in a fridge.
First soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, then fully drain away all of the water and place the seeds in a zip-lock freezer bag. Place the seeds in the fridge at around 4 Celsius, it is important that during this period that the seeds do not dry out or are waterlogged otherwise the pre-treatment will be ineffective.
After 6 weeks under these conditions the seeds are ready to be sown. In general, the seeds will fail to germinate unless treated in this way, simply sowing untreated seeds in compost at room temperature will not break down the dormancy and germination will be disappointing. Depending on different seed-lots it is possible that germination may begin before the end of pre-treatment, if this happens sow all of the seeds quickly!
Fill your chosen container with a good quality general potting compost. Suitable containers could be plant pots, seed trays or plug trays or even improvised containers with drainage holes. Firm the compost gently and sow the seeds on the surface. If you are sowing in plug trays, sow 2 or 3 seeds per cell.
Cover the seeds with a couple of millimeters of vermiculite or failing that a fine layer of sieved compost.
Follow with a gentle watering and keep them at room temperature. Germination will begin a few weeks from sowing. The seedlings are reasonably robust and trouble free and usually grow to a height of between 10 and 20 cm in the first growing season depending on the sowing date and cultural techniques.
Densely sown seedlings are at risk from fungal diseases such as “damping off” which can cause rapid loss of many seedlings.
Developing seedlings should be fine in full sun, keep them well watered and free of competing weeds. Growth will accelerate in the second and subsequent years and the developing young trees should be re-potted as necessary preferably during the dormant season. After perhaps 2 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position.
First soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, then fully drain away all of the water and place the seeds in a zip-lock freezer bag. Place the seeds in the fridge at around 4 Celsius, it is important that during this period that the seeds do not dry out or are waterlogged otherwise the pre-treatment will be ineffective.
After 6 weeks under these conditions the seeds are ready to be sown. In general, the seeds will fail to germinate unless treated in this way, simply sowing untreated seeds in compost at room temperature will not break down the dormancy and germination will be disappointing. Depending on different seed-lots it is possible that germination may begin before the end of pre-treatment, if this happens sow all of the seeds quickly!
Fill your chosen container with a good quality general potting compost. Suitable containers could be plant pots, seed trays or plug trays or even improvised containers with drainage holes. Firm the compost gently and sow the seeds on the surface. If you are sowing in plug trays, sow 2 or 3 seeds per cell.
Cover the seeds with a couple of millimeters of vermiculite or failing that a fine layer of sieved compost.
Follow with a gentle watering and keep them at room temperature. Germination will begin a few weeks from sowing. The seedlings are reasonably robust and trouble free and usually grow to a height of between 10 and 20 cm in the first growing season depending on the sowing date and cultural techniques.
Densely sown seedlings are at risk from fungal diseases such as “damping off” which can cause rapid loss of many seedlings.
Developing seedlings should be fine in full sun, keep them well watered and free of competing weeds. Growth will accelerate in the second and subsequent years and the developing young trees should be re-potted as necessary preferably during the dormant season. After perhaps 2 years they are ready to be planted in their permanent position.
