larix leptolepis

[greenhorn321]

Wondering if my japanese larch will grow well in USDA zone 9b? And there's a bar branch, I want to remove one side of when would be a good time to do so? I'm also thinking of cutting the trunk about halfway up the tree, would a new leader develop directly under the cut? Young tree

 

[rockm]

Larch don't do well in zones above 6 or so. I live in zone 7 and have had Japanese larch fade away over three or four years. They don't like hot summers, especially in containers.

 

[greenhorn321]

I bought it from a semi local nursery. Are they setting me up for failure? Or is there any way to protect it during the hot months?

 

[JudyB]

I can't imagine how you'd do that in zone 9. Perhaps in zone 7 you could get away with it, in a super shady area, but zone 9? Sorry, but I don't think it's going to last long in that heat.
Since you have it, I'd say put it in pretty much organic soil, and keep it in morning only sun, and heavy afternoon shade. Try to keep the pot cool, close to the ground, and not on a wood bench as wood will heat up. Maybe on tile... Some people wrap alum. foil around the pots to keep the sun from heating them up.
Good luck.

 

[rockm]

There is really nothing you can do to protect it, aside from keeping it in the shade. It's not so much the heat of the day, though. From what I've seen, it is hot evening temperatures that kill it off slowly. Wrapping the pot in foil would lag the heat accumulated in the pot during the day into the evening hours, so you might not want to do that...A white cloth, like a T-shirt, wetted down and covering the pot during the heat of the day would work better. Remove the cloth at dusk to allow heat out.

FWIW, I tried all of that when I had my Japanese larch. It still faded away and died over a four year period. The summers were just too hot for it here in Northern Va.

The species (which is usually called larix Kaempferi--the leptolepis name is outdated, I think) grows in higher altitudes in Japan that are much cooler than anything in Zone 9. Nurseries sell what sells. Novelty is a seller in some cases, which could be why the place had one for sale.

 

[JTGJr25]

The biggest problem of all here is the lack of chilling hours in the winter time. It may survive the hot summer but it will not leaf out again in the spring.


Tom

 

[Ang3lfir3]

FWIW larch are common as bonsai here in the PNW (8 and 8b) ... however the PNW is special in its prolonged temperate weather with relatively gentle summers

 

[Klytus]

Eurolepis looks to be good to at least Zone 8,maybe a bit more,if i may be so bold.

 

[rockm]

Eurolepis looks to be good to at least Zone 8,maybe a bit more,if i may be so bold.

Er, um, I live in USDA Zone 7. I've had one. It doesn't work very well...You have one?

 

[Klytus]

Oh yes,it's doing remarkably well,no lengths of unbranched twigs longer than about a quarter inch.

Prune all new shoots during the growing season and each twig that elongated the year before to one or two buds during the winter.
During the winter one can also cut away surplus twigs from congested nodes,especially at the apex.

Direct afternoon and evening sun,allow to freeze solid during the winter but prevent standing in cold water.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

just to be clear since rockm brought up a good point... by "Larches" I am only referring to Larix Larcinia and Larix Kaempferi ... as these are the only two species of larch I know of being grown here ...