Larix Decidua Winter Silhouette
Larix decidua, commonly called European larch, is a deciduous conifer although it looks like a needled evergreen in summer. It is very popular in the center and north of Europe for Bonsai art. It is perhaps best noted for its soft green foliage that turns golden yellow in fall. This color change gives the higher Alps a beautiful color. The bark on mature trees is scaly, furrowed and reddish-brown which provides a great contrast to the soft and elegant foliage and the rough deadwood. It is a native to the cool mountainous regions from the Alps to the Carpathians. It is a heliophilous plant that doesn’t like shade, very high temperatures or humidity. Other deciduous conifers include dawn redwood, bald cypress and ginkgo.