Is European Larch suitable in my zone? Been told conflicting information.

[Treemendously_Small_Trees]

I've always wanted a larch (and I have just purached 3 seedlings for long term projects) but Im concerned about getting a bigger more established one and it doing ok in my climate. I've read and been told conflicting information such as they dont survive above zone 6 or they'll be fine in direct 38C sun. You see my confision...

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Why not contact Bonsai Direct over in Devon, I know they have larch bonsai and could advise on their care in your area.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Larches will do fine in the UK.

 

[Shibui]

Opinions are like bumholes. Every one has one and many are willing to let you know even if they have no rational basis for their opinions. A great many opinions are second or third hand and many more are just wrong. Trouble is that it is really difficult to sort the pearls from the chaff to mix a couple metaphors.
I know that Japanese larch appear to be the most warm tolerant.
European larch just exist in Melbourne but are unreliable whatever zone that turns out to be.
I'm not sure whether it is the summer sun or winter cold they are sensitive to. Whatever it is I don't bother here. Too many species that are happy to thrive here to waste time on those that are marginal at best.

 

[Jorgens86]

Cold in winter isnt probleme, they are extremly hardy in winters but the probleme is heat!! If the tree have big foliage then larch can cool itself if you cut lot of branches and leave the tree with small foliage then it starts to die..

 

[Bnana]

It should be fine. On extremely hot days (like >35°C) you can place in in the shade. But most trees would like that.

 

[AJL]

Larch is grown widely all over UK!

 

[AJL]

I see you live darn sarf in Essex so you shouldnt have any problem with larch as they are very hardy; just protect from blistering sunshine and drought!

 

[JoeH]

 

[rockm]

They're probably fine in your area. The issue with larches here in the Southern U.S. (and other warmer climates) isn't the summer heat, but more specifically, the constant, sustained heat, particularly at night. Where larches are native to areas where summertime nighttime temps regularly dip into the mid-60's or even 50's, in warmer climates, they remain in the upper 70's, 80's and even 90's (hellooo Washington D.C. in August.
I've tried a couple North American and Japanese larches here in N. Va. We regularly have stretches with days in high 90's-100's with nighttime temps "dropping" into the low 90's or mid 80's. Larch here don't die outright, but fade away over a few years as the summers drag them down.

 

[coh]

I can't imagine the number of 38 C days over there is very high? We get the occasional 35-38 C day (95-100) here and I leave the larches in full sun. If we were going to have a week straight of that with full peak sun (mid June - mid July) I might think about moving them into afternoon shade. Our night temps are usually pretty cool in summer, it's rare for it to stay above 70 at night for more than a few days. Mostly 60s and 50s are not uncommon.

They will use a LOT of water in those kinds of conditions especially if they have actively growing/tender shoots.

 

[hinmo24t]

They're probably fine in your area. The issue with larches here in the Southern U.S. (and other warmer climates) isn't the summer heat, but more specifically, the constant, sustained heat, particularly at night. Where larches are native to areas where summertime nighttime temps regularly dip into the mid-60's or even 50's, in warmer climates, they remain in the upper 70's, 80's and even 90's (hellooo Washington D.C. in August.
I've tried a couple North American and Japanese larches here in N. Va. We regularly have stretches with days in high 90's-100's with nighttime temps "dropping" into the low 90's or mid 80's. Larch here don't die outright, but fade away over a few years as the summers drag them down.

Massachusetts humidity and heat, you just reminded me of. not the thin air heat like out west, thick swampy heat right thru the night. thank goodness for central AC for those days.

 

[rockm]

Massachusetts humidity and heat, you just reminded me of. not the thin air heat like out west, thick swampy heat right thru the night. thank goodness for central AC for those days.

Um, Massachusetts isn't hot . it's tepid. I used to live up there. It's not really all that humid when compared to the South. You should spend a summer in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Tex. or heck even D.C. (which is mostly the same climate zone as Dallas, only the heat gives way a bit a month earlier here.) Larch are native to Mass. They're only in the Appalachian highlands and even then they're rare here.

 

[hinmo24t]

Um, Massachusetts isn't hot . it's tepid. I used to live up there. It's not really all that humid when compared to the South. You should spend a summer in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Tex. or heck even D.C. (which is mostly the same climate zone as Dallas, only the heat gives way a bit a month earlier here.) Larch are native to Mass. They're only in the Appalachian highlands and even then they're rare here.

very cool, i want to find a tamarack or european larch i tihnk grow here. i know where theres one on a campus nearby but havent recognized others yet. i bet youre correct per the zones and whatnot, but anecdotally, summers can be damn muggy in the northeast, thick heat. nothing like the west coast, as im sure you feel as well in VA. i feel bad if it is worse...i like the spring and fall around where i live, its lovely.

Boston, the capital of and the most populated municipality of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen classification Cfa).
This climate is characterized by warm and humid summers, cold and stormy winters, and mild but varied springs and autumns. Boston is conveniently located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, but the prevailing winds minimize the effect of the Atlantic Ocean on Boston's climate
Summer is hot and humid but sometimes varies to become fresh and pleasant. Humidity during summer is high, and the hottest days feel muggy, and uncomfortable heat waves are not uncommon during summer, appreciative of the high temperature and many sunshine hours per day.

 

[Jorgens86]

very cool, i want to find a tamarack or european larch i tihnk grow here. i know where theres one on a campus nearby but havent recognized others yet. i bet youre correct per the zones and whatnot, but anecdotally, summers can be damn muggy in the northeast, thick heat. nothing like the west coast, as im sure you feel as well in VA. i feel bad if it is worse...i like the spring and fall around where i live, its lovely.

Boston, the capital of and the most populated municipality of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen classification Cfa).
This climate is characterized by warm and humid summers, cold and stormy winters, and mild but varied springs and autumns. Boston is conveniently located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, but the prevailing winds minimize the effect of the Atlantic Ocean on Boston's climate
Summer is hot and humid but sometimes varies to become fresh and pleasant. Humidity during summer is high, and the hottest days feel muggy, and uncomfortable heat waves are not uncommon during summer, appreciative of the high temperature and many sunshine hours per day.

Beter get japanese or hybrid eorolepis x insted of europian. Those both ar more heat tolernat