A great shape with or without needles
Pseudolarix amabilis is an easy-going tree, tolerant of most soil conditions and is equally at home in a pot.
Its hardiness and affinity to pot culture sees this species being used as a subject for bonsai in Japan and penjing in China.
In the ground, Pseudolarix amabilis is slow-growing, reaching 3m in 10 years, but can eventually reach 10m or more.
It forms a typical conical conifer shape with beautifully arranged, layered branches.
The needles emerge bright yellow-green and are arranged in even whorls giving the tree an appearance of being covered in many small green saucers.
Golden autumn tints
The Chinese common name kin-ye-sung, or golden-leaved pine, and the European common name, golden larch, are due to the bright yellow autumn colour the plant often develops early in the autumn.
Pseudolarix is neither a pine nor larch but is in a group of its own, being the only species of this genus.
•Height: 3m in 10-15 years, with similar spread.
•Habitat: Native to the coastal mountains of southeastern China.
•Propagation: Seed is usually used but often proves difficult to get.
•Situation: Most situations, but does not like to be waterlogged.
•Dylan Norfield is the geographic and arboretum collection curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
