Range
Native to a limited mountainous zone in the central island (Honshu) of Japan, although also widely planted in the northern island of Hokkaido.
Provenance Choice
Collections from British seed stands should be preferred or if these are not available provenances from the central part of the natural range should be used.
Site Requirements
A light demanding pioneer species which needs more than 1000 mm of rainfall for good growth. Cold hardy and withstands moderate exposure, although stem form can be poor especially on exposed or more fertile sites. Vulnerable to spring and autumn frosts. Best suited to mineral soils of poor nutrient status (i.e. less fertile than for European larch), and will also grow on very poor soils and on better drained peats. Very fast early height growth means that it is better suited for mixture with conifers.
ECOLOGICAL SITE CLASSIFICATION TOOLPests and Pathogens
Only rarely susceptible to the fungal disease, larch canker (Lachnellula willkommii), which causes perennial cankers that girdle or distort branches and stems. Can also be affected by Heterobasidion (Fomes root and butt rot) as well as another butt rot fungus, Phaeolus schweinitzii. More recently, Japanese larch has been found to be seriously affected by the introduced pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, which may affect future use.
All three larches (EL, JL and HL) can be killed following attacks by the larch bark beetle, Ips cembrae, but this pest is only thought to occur in northern Britain. Trees under stress are preferentially attacked.
