natural herbs
Sub-Alpine Larch
Larix lyallii

• Medicinal herbs
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• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Sub-Alpine Larch

Latin name: Larix lyallii

Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Edible parts of Sub-Alpine Larch:

The shoot-tips are used as a flavouring in soups.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Sub-alpine to alpine zones, often on north-facing slopes where snow lies until late in the season.

Other uses of Sub-Alpine Larch:

The bark contains tannin. Wood - strong, heavy, hard, coarse-grained and durable.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. Although only a few centimetres tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer providing you give them an effective weed-excluding mulch and preferably some winter protection for their first year. Otherwise grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year. The seed remains viable for 3 years If you are growing larger quantities of plants, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in late winter. Grow on the seedlings in the seedbed for a couple of years until they are ready to go into their permanent positions then plant them out during the winter.

Cultivation of Sub-Alpine Larch:

Sub-alpine to alpine zones, often on north-facing slopes where snow lies until late in the season.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Larix lyallii:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.