The larch dyes its female flowers bright pink. Against the green background of the needles, they can no longer be overlooked and completely fade the male specimens. This spectacle is not offered every year and should therefore be admired extensively.
The female flowers are pink
Manhood and fattening years
Depending on the location, it can take 15 to 40 years before a larch blossoms for the first time and then bears fruit. This ability is called manhood.
The larch invests a lot of energy in flowers and fruit, even neglecting its growth. That's why she takes a break for a few years before she blooms extensively again. The years in which it adorns itself with many flowers are called fattening years.
Early flowering
The larch starts flowering early in the year, even before it shows its needles. The main flowering period is between March and May.
Two types of flowers: male and female
A larch tree produces male and female flowers at the same time. This property is referred to in botany as "monoecious, separate sexes". The flowers also differ externally:
- male flowers appear on bare short shoots
- they are ovate and between 5 and 10 mm long
- their color is yellow-brown
- female flowers are ovate and somewhat oblong
- they stand upright
- their length is 10 to 20 mm
- the color palette goes from pink to red
- they turn green in autumn
tips
While the female flowers are more eye-catching, the male buds delight our taste buds. They are edible.