Japanese Larch - Larix kaempferi

Similar to European Larch (Larix decidua) but has pink to red young twigs with leaves 15 to 40 mm long. Cones ovoid, erect, to 3cm long, with out-curved scales. 

Larix decidua, and the hybrid between the two

Cones with strongly recurved scales

Photo of cones and shoot; photo of whole tree

This tree is planted mainly as a forestry crop, but is also found in parks and large gardens. It grows in open situations, but does not thrive in either dry or waterlogged sites. Regeneration from seed can be frequent.

Flowers in March or April.

Deciduous conifer.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain with a northern and western bias.

Thought to be locally fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was wrongly recorded as Larix decidua in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire so exact status in our area is hard to determine.