Weeping Japanese Larch

Weeping Japanese Larch

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

This gracefully weeping variety has soft green needles that change to a stunning golden yellow in the fall; in winter, red-brown bark covered with short spurs is revealed; often grafted onto a standard (single trunk) and grown as an accent

Ornamental Features

Weeping Japanese Larch is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its highly ornamental weeping form. It has bluish-green deciduous foliage which emerges light green in spring. The needle-like leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall. The rough brick red bark and gold branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Weeping Japanese Larch is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a rounded form and gracefully weeping branches. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Weeping Japanese Larch is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Weeping Japanese Larch will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.