Mendel’s Gardens

Larix kaempferi

Japanese Larch

Family PinaceaeGenus Larix

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreePlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
70-90 ftPlant Finder
Height
98.0 ftPLANTS Database
Spread
25-40 ftPlant Finder
Flower
RedPLANTS Database
Blooms
Non-floweringPlant Finder
Blooms
SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
JapanPlant Finder
Native range
CanadaPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-7Plant Finder
Note
Deno's counts include the empty seed coats, so filled seed does considerably better.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.
Note
A deciduous conifer with good autumn colour. Intolerant of full shade.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Sun
Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
Soil
Rich, moist, acidic, well-drainedPlant Finder
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

20% germination in 42–56 days.

Cold beats warm here, and dry storage changed nothing either way.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, LarixPublic domain
Show the original text
Larix (Plnaceae). L. kaempferi germ. 70(14% in 2-10 w) and 40(20% in 6-8 w) for either fresh seed or seed IDS 6 m at 70 or 40. Germination would have been much higher if the empty seed coats were not counted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Larix. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 70 days to germinate.

14% germination in 14–70 days.

Deno counted empty coats as seed, so the figure on filled seed is much higher.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, LarixPublic domain
Show the original text
Larix (Plnaceae). L. kaempferi germ. 70(14% in 2-10 w) and 40(20% in 6-8 w) for either fresh seed or seed IDS 6 m at 70 or 40. Germination would have been much higher if the empty seed coats were not counted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Larix. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.