Larix leptolepis synonymously known as Larix kaempferi and commonly known as Japanese Larch is a medium-sized to large deciduous coniferous tree native to Japan, reaching 2040 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The crown is broad conic; both the main branches and the side branches are level, the side branches only rarely drooping. The needles are a light glaucous green through the spring and summer turning bright yellow to orange before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pinkish-brown shoots bare until the next spring. Prefers to grow in an open airy position and can become very vigorous making between 1 and 1.5 metres increase in height per year. Japanese Larch is an important forestry tree in its native country and also widely planted in northern Europe, particularly the British Isles. It grows best on well-drained soils, avoiding waterlogged ground. The wood is tough and durable, used for general construction work. Small larch poles are widely used for rustic fencing. It is a very hardy tree and is not frost tender. For germination the seeds require a period of moist pre-chilling also known as stratification before the seeds should be sown, this takes around 6 weeks in the fridge and is not difficult to do.