Larix laricina

Tamarack is a conifer that is deciduous, turning golden-yellow then shedding all of its needles annually in the fall.
Photo Credit: © Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.
Larix laricina
Common Name: tamarack
Other Common Names: Alaskan larch, American larch, eastern larch, hackmatack
Plant Functional Group: Deciduous conifer
Class > Order > Family: Pinopsida > Pinales > Pinaceae
What does the species look like?

Tamarack is a deciduous conifer tree that grows 40 to 80 feet tall. Male and female cones are present on the same tree. The small, yellowish male cones bear pollen and the reddish brown female cones mature and become pale brown. Cone production begins when the tree matures at about 15-40 years of age, and pollination occurs by wind.

Tamarack prefers moist to wet soils and cooler weather. It is often found in poorly drained swamps, bogs and muskegs, and also found along streams, lakes, swamp borders, and occasionally on upland sites.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AB, AK, BC, CT, IL, IN, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, NB, NH, NJ, NL, NS, NT, NU, NY, OH, ON, PA, PE, QC, RI, SK, VT, WI, WV, YT
Special Considerations for Observing

If drought seems to be the cause of needle color or fall for a plant, please make a comment about it for that observation.
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see...?
Needles Breaking needle buds
One or more breaking needle buds are visible on the plant. A needle bud is considered "breaking" once a green needle tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first needle from the bud has unfolded and spread away at an angle from the developing stem, or from other needles in a bundle.
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How many buds are breaking?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Needles
One or more live, unfolded needles are visible on the plant. A needle is considered "unfolded" once it begins to spread away at an angle from the developing stem enough that its point of attachment to the stem is visible, or from other needles in a bundle so that it is no longer pressed flat against them. Do not include fully dried or dead needles.
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What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with needles? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space.

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more
Colored needles
One or more needles show some of their typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to drought or other stresses. Do not include small spots of color due to minor needle damage, or dieback on branches that have broken. Do not include fully dried or dead needles that remain on the plant.
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What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with non-green needle color? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space.

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more
Falling needles
One or more needles with typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to other stresses, are falling or have recently fallen from the plant. Do not include fully dried or dead needles that remain on the plant for many days before falling.
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Pollen cones Pollen cones
One or more fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Include cones that are unopened or open, but do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.
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How many fresh pollen cones are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Open pollen cones
One or more open, fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have already released all of their pollen.

What percentage of all fresh pollen cones (unopened plus open) on the plant are open?

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more
Pollen release
One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release visible pollen grains when gently shaken or blown into your palm or onto a dark surface.
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How much pollen is released?

  • Little: Only a few grains are released.
  • Some: Many grains are released.
  • Lots: A layer of pollen covers your palm, or a cloud of pollen can be seen in the air when the wind blows

Seed cones Unripe seed cones
One or more unripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Larix laricina, an unripe seed cone is green, dark red, purplish or brown with scales closed together.
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How many seed cones are unripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Ripe seed cones
One or more ripe, female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Larix laricina, a seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned yellow-brown or brown and the scales have begun to spread apart to expose the seeds inside. Do not include empty cones that have already dropped all of their seeds.
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How many seed cones are ripe?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
Recent cone or seed drop
One or more seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all of their seeds but remained on the plant.
More...

How many seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000
What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.

ITIS information for tamarack (ITIS TSN: 183412 )
USDA PLANTS profile for tamarack (USDA Symbol: LALA )