The European larch, Tree of the Year 2012, stands out among native trees for its graceful beauty. The fresh green color of its budding needles lets everyone know that spring is just around the corner.

In the Alps, the European larch can be found at altitudes of up to 2,500 meters. There, together with the Swiss stone pine and the mountain maple, it forms the upper tree line. In its youth, the larch is one of the fastest-growing trees. In order to grow well, it needs as much space as possible and little competition.

• Origin: Central Europe

• Height: up to 35 meters

• Needles: slender, light green; bright yellow in autumn, then a feast for the eyes, especially in the mountains in larger stands

• Flowers: male flowers are yellowish, 5–10 mm in size, egg-shaped, inconspicuous; female flowers are pink, dark red to almost pink, 10–20 mm in size

• Fruit: egg-shaped cones, upward-curving scales, seeds ripen the following spring

• Soil/location: requires a lot of light, tolerates prolonged drought; prefers deep soils

• Special feature: Unlike most other conifers, the larch sheds its needles in winter.