Larix kaempferi - Japanese Larch

Introduced into Britain in 1861, Japanese larch trees are now widely planted, and most of the larch forests in Wales comprise this species or a hybrid of the European Larch and the Japanese Larch. Apart from its greater vigour and disease resistance, this tree differs from European Larch, Larix decidua, in having slightly longer blue-green needles and a purple tinge to the twigs.

Another distinguishing feature is that the tips of the cone scales are bent outwards and backwards, whereas cones of the European Larch do not have out-bent scale tips.

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