Side by side
Cedar or European larch? How to tell them apart
Cedrus · Larix decidua
How to tell them apart – cedar: stiff, pointed needles in tufts like a larch, but evergreen, large barrel-shaped cones; European larch: soft needles that fall in autumn and much smaller cones.
How do you recognise them?
- Cedar
- Stiff, pointed needles in tufts like a larch, but evergreen; large barrel-shaped cones.
- European larch
- Soft, light green needles in tufts that turn golden yellow in autumn and fall.
- Compared with cedar: soft needles that fall in autumn and much smaller cones.
| Cedar | European larch | |
|---|---|---|
| Needles | Needles 1.5–3.5 cm (deodar up to 5 cm), stiff and sharp; in tufts on short shoots, single on young shoots. Evergreen. | Needles 2–4 cm, soft and bright light green; in tufts of 20–40 on short spurs, single on young shoots. |
| Flowering | – | – |
| Cones and seeds | Upright, barrel-shaped cones 5–10 cm that break up on the tree. | Upright cones 2–4 cm with straight or slightly incurved scales; they stay on the tree for years. |
| Bark | Dark grey, smooth at first, later cracked into small plates. | Grey-brown; on older trees thick and cracked into scales, red-brown in the fissures. |
| Shape and height | Conifer, 20–40 m | Conifer, 25–40 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, dry | Full sun, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, naturalised |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Little | Yes, for birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | August–September | July–August and November–February |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Cedar (20–40 m) and European larch (25–40 m) both grow into large trees: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Cedar
- Plant profile: European larch
- Cedar: when and how to prune
- European larch: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.