Larix occidentalis
Western Larch, Tamarack
Pinaceae
Deciduous, Trees
LARIXThese conifers form slender pyramids with horizontal branches and drooping branchlets. Needles are 1/2–1 1/2 in. long, in fluffy tufts. Except as noted, those of the species listed in this database are soft to the touch. Woody, roundish, 1/2 to 1 1/2-in.-long cones are scattered all along branchlets. Notable for color in spring and fall and for winter silhouette. In spring, these show off pale green tufts of new needles and bright purple-red new cones. In fall, needles turn brilliant yellow and orange before dropping. Winter interest is enhanced by the many cones, which turn brown with age and hang on to create a polka dot pattern against the sky.
Larix occidentalisNative to the Cascadesand northern Rocky Mountains.Grows 150–200 ft. tall as timber tree, but usually just 30–50 ft. tall, 10–15 ft. wide in gardens. Sharp, stiff needles are blue-green to gray-green insummer.
Kalmia polifolia microphylla
Native from Alaska to Northern California. To 1 ft. high and 8 in. wide, with spreading branches ander...
Doronicum orientale
Flower heads to 2 in. wide, borne singly on 1–1 1/2-ft. stems above a footwide foliage clump. Usually ...
Acer glabrum douglasii
Grows along the shores of southeastern Alaska, south into Canada and parts of the Pacific Northwest an...
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