Larch

Origin	Europe, boreal and central European coniferous forests
Raw density	typically approx. 520-650 kg/m³ (depending on growth and quality)
Durability class	Class 3-4 (conditionally stable)
Radial differential shrinkage	medium
Differential tangential shrinkage	medium to significant – wood reacts noticeably to changes in humidity
Wood color	warm reddish to golden brown, sapwood lighter
Wood structure	coarse-pored, distinctive annual rings
Use	Facades, exterior cladding, exposed timber framing, fences, garden wood, furniture

Origin and wood character

Larch is one of the native conifers of Central Europe and feels particularly at home in cooler, damp areas. Its wood stands out due to its warm, reddish-brown coloring and clear, strong grain – characteristics that make it visually very attractive. Due to the pronounced annual rings and the color contrast between the sapwood and heartwood, larch wood has a lively and rustic appearance. Unlike many other conifers, larches are deciduous and shed their needles in late fall.

Special specimens and historical finds

Some outstanding larch specimens underline the importance of this tree species: the highest known larch in Europe and the world is located in the Schlitz Forest in eastern Hesse, measured in 2014 at 54.80 meters high and 2.52 meters in circumference. The “Hildegard larch” on Lake Constance is also one of the most impressive specimens in Germany: around 45 meters high and 4.75 meters in circumference. Switzerland is also home to exceptionally strong larches with trunk circumferences of over ten meters. In North America, the “Seeley Lake Giant” in the Lolo National Forest (Montana) is impressive – a Western American larch tree with a height of 49.4 meters, a diameter of 2.21 meters and a trunk volume of around 83 m³. One of the oldest known finds is the “Shigir Idol”, a figurine made of larch wood from the Transurals, which is dated to around 11,000 years ago.

Rustic look with honest boundaries

Larch is not associated with tropical durability or the stability of domestic hardwoods like oak. Although larch heartwood offers moderate resistance to weathering under favorable conditions, the sapwood that is often incorporated is not very durable. Without regular wood protection and good construction, moisture, sun and weather are often the cause of decay, warping and resin leakage.

Sources: Wood from the trade

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