A larch is an unusual type of tree that looks like an evergreen but isn't. While most trees with needles (like pines and spruces) stay green all year, larches do something surprising: their soft, bright green needles turn golden yellow in autumn and then fall off completely, leaving bare branches through winter.

In spring, the larch grows fresh new needles in little clusters, making the whole tree look fuzzy and lime-green. Larches grow in cold northern regions and high mountains, where their tough wood and ability to survive freezing temperatures make them valuable. Their timber is exceptionally strong and rot-resistant, so builders use it for fence posts, boat building, and outdoor projects where wood needs to last.

The most famous larch is probably the tamarack of North America, which thrives in cold swamps and bogs. In Siberia, vast larch forests cover millions of acres. If you've ever seen a conifer forest in fall with some trees glowing golden while others stay green, you were likely looking at larches showing their unique character.