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Larix decidua Horstmann's Recurved

Larix decidua Horstmann Recurved
European Larch, Common Larch

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A compact Larch with a twisted and architectural habit that will delight plant enthusiasts. It is slow-growing and forms a small, compact tree with an irregular, more or less conical silhouette. Its branches, which fork in all directions, bear tufts of green needles scattered in a random manner. One of the few deciduous conifers, its foliage takes on beautiful yellow hues before falling to the ground. It is extremely hardy and thrives in moist soil, in full sun or partial shade. A truly original plant, perfectly suited for small gardens in cool and even cold climates.
Height at maturity
2.50 m
Spread at maturity
1.30 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -34°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Description

Larix decidua Horstmann's Recurved is a compact German variety of European larch. This deciduous conifer has an extremely twisted and architectural habit, with stems branching off in all directions. In spring, they are covered with clusters of short, tender green needles, which darken as the season progresses. When autumn arrives, the foliage takes on a beautiful yellow hue before falling to the ground. This very hardy mountain variety prefers light and slightly moist soil, without too much limestone, even poor, as well as a sunny exposure.

The European larch, Larix decidua, is a tall tree that can reach a height of 30 m, belonging to the Pinaceae family, like Firs, Spruces, Cedars, and Pines. It is one of the few conifers, along with the Bald Cypress (Taxodium) and the Metasequoia, whose deciduous foliage falls in autumn. It is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe, where it is found at an altitude between 1400 and 2400 m. It is a pioneer species capable of improving poor or degraded soils, with great hardiness (down to -40 °C). Highly valued for its wood, it adapts very well to cultivation in lowland areas.
Larix decidua Horstmann's Recurved is quite different from the original botanical species. This cultivar was selected in 2003 from a seedling in Germany, at the Uwe Horstmann Nursery (Lower Saxony, north of Hanover). It is a compact variety with slow growth, 15 to 25 cm per year, which in about ten years will form a plant 1.5 m to 2.5 m tall and 1 m to 1.30 m wide. With a somewhat gangly appearance, it has a more or less conical habit, although often irregular. Its very twisted branches constantly fork, resembling snakes in motion, giving it a highly ornamental aspect in winter when the wood is bare. In spring, the branches are adorned with bright green tender needle-like foliage, inserted in small tufts irregularly spaced along the branches. The foliage darkens slightly throughout the growing season and finally takes on beautiful yellow colours in autumn.
This extremely cold-resistant, miniature conifer is sensitive to drought. Perfectly adapted to mountainous regions, it is not suitable for much drier southern areas. It should therefore be planted in moist, well-drained soil, exposed to the sun or possibly in light shade. Once these basic needs are met, it proves to be rather easy to cultivate, requiring almost no maintenance, except for some light pruning to shape its habit.

This Larix will interest collectors and enthusiasts of plant rarities. Its original twisted habit is very interesting and will allow it to find a place in a rockery, provided the soil is not dry, or in a contemporary garden. Its architectural silhouette, especially in winter, will inevitably attract attention. It can be the starting point for a small collection of bizarre plants, such as Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana', a dwarf Japanese Cedar that forms a one-metre-wide ball with a shaggy appearance. Corylus avellana Scooter is a dwarf twisted Hazelnut that does not exceed 1 m in height, with an appearance as ghostly as the Larch, but with round leaves that clearly distinguish it from its needles. And to stick with intricate shapes, while enjoying beautiful colours, Prunus incisa Kojo no mai is a dwarf Japanese flowering Cherry that combines a beautiful pale pink spring bloom with a festival of red colours in autumn when the foliage blazes before falling.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2.50 m
Spread at maturity 1.30 m
Habit conical, pyramidal
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Larix

Species

decidua

Cultivar

Horstmann Recurved

Family

Pinaceae

Other common names

European Larch, Common Larch

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference 19350

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Planting and care

Larix decidua Horstmann's Recurved is a bush for a mountain climate that is sensitive to arid conditions. It should be planted in the spring or from September to November in well-drained soil, still retaining some moisture, even poor soil, preferably slightly acidic and low in limestone, in a sunny or semi-shaded location. A mixture of coarse sand, ericaceous soil, and compost added to the garden soil will work very well, in a planting hole measuring 50 cm on each side and in depth. Soak the root ball in a bucket of water for fifteen minutes before planting, then water abundantly once the hole is filled. If your soil is too heavy, a good trick is to plant your bush on a mound and mulch it with non-limestone gravel. Water regularly during the first two years, and in case of prolonged drought. This very hardy conifer also dislikes heavy and clayey soils that are waterlogged.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -34°C (USDA zone 4) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not essential, but this conifer can be pruned to maintain or enhance its original shape. Pruning should be done in February-March.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to March
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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