Description
Latin Name: Larix sibirica
DESCRIPTION
Family: Pinaceae
Native Range: Northern Europe and Asia
Seed Source: Seed production orchard near Indian Head Saskatchewan
Height and Spread: 20m x 5m (25 years)
Overview: The 'Lindquist' seed strain was developed specifically for tree planting in dry cold temperate regions of the Canadian prairies. It is a composite of parent trees selected from mature Siberian larch trees in southern Saskatchewan. It is named in honour of Carl Lindquist, propagation technician at the PFRA Tree Nursery from 1954 to 1984. 'Lindquist' Siberian larch grows on a wide variety of soils but favours loamy soils with pH 5.0 to 7.5. It is shade intolerant, preferring sunny exposure. It is characterized by a narrow upright crown and extreme hardiness (zone 1).
Seed: dark brown, 2-4 cm long.
Average viable seeds/packet: 640
SEED TREATMENT / SOWING
Stratification: Soak seeds for 24 hours then stratify in moist sand for 45 days at 5C.
Ideal sowing time: Fall outdoors or March indoors
Sowing instructions: Outdoors - Sow 1 cm deep, 50 seeds/meter; Indoors - sow 3 seeds per cell 0.5 cm deep.
Growing conditions: In spring, sow the stratified seeds in small pots filled with peat-based potting mix, covered just barely with 0.5 cm of additional potting mix. Place the containers in a bright location, but without too much direct sunlight, and continue to grow them until summer, when they can be placed outdoors in a shady location to continue growing. After one year the larch seedlings should be large enough to transplant to a permanent location.
AGROFORESTRY VALUE
'Lindquist' Siberian larch is used as specimen trees or in hedges and windbreaks. It also does well in plantations. The dense, deep roots make it useful for soil stabilization. Its open crowns allow for uniform snow distribution adjacent to the windbreak. It has excellent wood quality for flooring and decking.
