tamarack

Tamarack is a common name for two species of larch trees in the genus Larix of the pine family (Pinaceae). In North America, it most often refers to Larix laricina, commonly known as the eastern larch, hackmatack, or American tamarack. In Eurasia, the European larch, Larix decidua, is also sometimes called a tamarack. Larches are unusual among conifers in that they are deciduous, shedding their needles each autumn.

They are medium-sized, deciduous conifers with slender trunks and conical crowns. Needles occur in tufts on short shoots; each needle is soft, light green to bluish-green, and typically 1–4 cm long depending on species. The needles turn yellow to gold in autumn before dropping. Bark is thin and scaly on young trees, becoming fissured and dark grey-brown with age. Cones are small, ovoid to cylindric, 1–2 cm long, and mature in the second year; cones often persist on the branches through winter.

Tam racks are native to cool temperate and boreal regions of North America and northern Eurasia. They prefer well-drained soils but can tolerate wetlands and swampy sites; they are hardy in cold climates and often grow rapidly when young.

In forestry, tamarack wood is light, soft, yet strong for its weight and durable in damp conditions. It is used for lumber, pulp, fencing, poles, and outdoor construction, and is valued for its decay resistance when exposed to soil. The name tamarack also yields regional names such as hackmatack and eastern larch.