Larix kaempferi
Japanese larch

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Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), known in Japan as Karamatsu, is a deciduous conifer native to central Japan, where it grows in subalpine and montane regions such as the central mountains of Honshu (Hoshi, 2004). The species occurs naturally as a pioneer tree on arid, nutrient-poor, and volcanic soils, and on floodplains and stream banks; it can also form secondary communities following forest disturbances such as clear-cutting (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009). 

Japanese larch is an important forestry species in the boreal zone in Japan and is highly valued for its strong, durable, and attractively coloured reddish wood. It has been extensively planted for timber production and reforestation. Its wood is prized for construction, furniture, and utility poles owing to its mechanical strength and natural resistance to decay (Chen, Xie, and Sun, 2015). The species was introduced to Europe in the late nineteenth century and is now well established in plantations across Central and Western Europe, notably in Germany, Sweden, and Britain. It has also been widely used in breeding programmes and hybridization with European larch (Larix decidua) (Chen, Xie, and Sun, 2015; Sun et al., 2022). 

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ex situ genetic conservation unit−+
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Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)

Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528

 

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

Genetic summary

Genetic diversity and variation 

In its native range in Japan, populations of Japanese larch have moderate to high genetic diversity but low within-population variation and substantial differentiation between populations, indicating localized genetic structuring and limited gene flow (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009). In China, where Japanese larch has been widely planted since the nineteenth century, high genetic diversity and limited differentiation between populations have been reported (Chen, Xie, and Sun, 2015; Du et al., 2021). Even cultivated and selectively bred populations have retained high genetic diversity, indicating effective management of breeding material and minimal genetic erosion (Du et al., 2021). Molecular tools can reliably distinguish Japanese larch from native European larch and hybrids, aiding conservation, and breeding efforts (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009). 

Genetic distribution and clustering 

Research has revealed five haplotypes across 14 native populations of Japanese larch, with most showing little internal variation. This suggests that some marginal populations may have undergone bottlenecks but still contribute significantly to total genetic variation (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009). This geographic structuring means that the genetic origin of source material, whether from central or marginal Japanese populations, can strongly influence the genetic diversity of introduced populations. In Europe, the distribution of Japanese larch is concentrated around historic introduction and forestry sites. The origins of these European populations remain unclear, and studies such as those in the Tatra National Park have identified both pure Japanese larch and hybrids with European larch, reflecting complex hybridization dynamics and a mosaic genetic structure (Sun et al., 2022). 

Gene flow 

Japanese larch has wind-dispersed pollen and seeds, enabling extensive gene flow over short to moderate distances. Widespread planting in forestry across Europe and Asia and movement of seeds means that human-mediated gene flow is also significant for Japanese larch. 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Further relevant genetic traits

NA

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Genetic conservation

Threats 

In Europe, the genetic diversity of Japanese larch is potentially affected by its artificial introduction history, limited founder populations, and hybridization with European larch. Because most European populations originate from only a few seed sources, often planted for forestry rather than genetic conservation, they may have reduced genetic variation and increased vulnerability to environmental change or disease. However, no studies on the genetic diversity or structure of European populations have been conducted, leaving uncertainty about the status of genetic variability and adaptation capacity in the introduced range (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009; Chen, Xie, and Sun, 2015). 

Management 

In Japan, Japanese larch benefits from established genetic conservation stands and long-term breeding programmes focused on maintaining and improving its valuable timber traits (Hoshi, 2004). Research in its native range has led to the development of genetic markers useful for germplasm characterization and genome mapping (Chen, Xie, and Sun, 2015), and these tools could be applied to evaluate the genetic health of European populations. However, such research and conservation measures have not yet been implemented in Europe. Further investigation is required to assess genetic diversity, detect bottlenecks or hybridization effects, and guide the development of management strategies that ensure the conservation and sustainable use of Japanese larch genetic resources (San Jose-Maldia, Uchida, and Tomaru, 2009). 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Further reading

NA

References

Chen, X.B., Xie, Y.H., and Sun, X.M. 2015. Development and characterization of polymorphic genic-SSR markers in Larix kaempferi. Molecules, 20(4): 6060–6067. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules20046060 

Du, C.Q., Sun, X.M., Xie, Y.H., and Hou, Y.M. 2021. Genetic diversity of Larix kaempferi populations with different levels of improvement in northern subtropical region. Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 57(5): 68–76. https://doi.org/10.11707/j.1001-7488.20210507 

Hoshi, H. 2004. Forest tree genetic resources conservation stands of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.). Forest Tree Genetic Resources Information, Special Issue No. 1. Ibaraki, Japan, Forest Tree Breeding Center. 

San Jose-Maldia, L., Uchida, K., and Tomaru, N. 2009. Mitochondrial DNA variation in natural populations of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi). Silvae Genetica, 58(5/6): 234–241. https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2009-0030 

Sun, C., Xie, Y.H., Li, Z., Liu, Y.J., Sun, X.M., Li, J.J., Quan, W.P., Zeng, Q.Y., Van de Peer, Y., and Zhang, S.G. 2022. The Larix kaempferi genome reveals new insights into wood properties. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 64(7): 1364–1373. https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13265 

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