Hackmatack

Hackmatack, also known as tamarack or eastern larch (Larix laricina), is a deciduous conifer in the pine family native to boreal and temperate regions of North America. The name hackmatack comes from Algonquian languages and is used in parts of Canada and the United States to refer to this species.

Description: It typically forms a medium-sized to large tree with a slender trunk and an open, irregular crown. The needles are soft, in dense clusters on short shoots, and are bright green in summer before turning yellow and being shed in autumn. Unlike most conifers, the tamarack is deciduous, losing its needles each winter. Cones are small, 1–2 cm long, and develop on the branches during the growing season.

Habitat and range: The species favors cool, wet habitats such as bogs, swamps, and muskegs and tolerates poorly drained soils. Its range covers much of eastern Canada and the northern United States, from Newfoundland and Labrador through Ontario and Quebec to Manitoba, and south to the Great Lakes region and New England.

Ecology and uses: Tamarack provides important habitat for birds and other wildlife. The wood is light and workable, used for general construction, pulp, and outdoor applications. Indigenous peoples traditionally used various parts of the tree for practical purposes and medicines.

Named places: Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin is named after the tree, reflecting the region’s history and ecology.

Conservation: The species is not currently listed as threatened and is adapted to cold, wet habitats; ongoing changes to water regimes may affect local stands.