Golden Larch (Pseudolarix Amabilis) 10 seeds (#108)

Illuminating the fall landscape with golden yellow needles, golden larch reaches skyward with its tall, open-branched, broadened cone-shaped form. A deciduous tree native to southeastern China's mountains, it is a slow-growing conifer that thrives where soils are moist, winters chilly and summers not too hot. Its bark is gray to grayish brown and flakes away in small plates.
The short soft needles are light green to bluish green, arranged in whorls and line the open and spreading branches. The youngest branch twigs have a gray-purple color, and the needles in this area are not in whorls. The male and female cones appear on the outer branches in late spring. The mature female cones are small, pale green to tan, and remain on the trees through the winter and following spring; cone production is often in alternating years. The foliage turns glorious shades of yellow and gold when the fall nights become chilly, but lasts for a short period before dropping unfortunately. Once the needles drop, the bare tree has a coarse, irregular skeletal shape that looks picturesque against the winter sky.
Provide a full sun exposure for the golden larch and place it in moist, well-drained, acid soil. Tolerant of light shade and air pollution, it is not good in sites exposed to cold winter winds. It is difficult to locate in the nursery trade, but if obtained it should also only be planted where winters aren't tough and summers not brutally hot. Golden larch resents limey soils (alkaline pH), deep shade, root disturbance and droughts. It makes a great specimen tree. (source: learn2grow.com)

Genus - Pseudolarix
Species - Amabilis
Common name - Golden Larch
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 7
Height - 35'-70' / 10 - 21 m
Spread - 20'-40' / 6 - 12 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Decidious
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Leaf / Flower color - Green, Blue Green, autumn - Yellow, Gold / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Soak in warm water for 24 hours.
2. Two months of cold stratification helps germination. Seeds can be stratified in dampened peat or sand, in a plastic box or bag at +4C in a refrigerator. The seeds should not be frozen or in a wet medium.
3. After stratification sow 10 mm (3/8") deep. Keep moist.
It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. (Source: www.pfaf.org)