How tall is Gus the larch?

163 feet high
Gus is 163 feet high, plus another 10-foot dead top. It has a crown diameter of 34 feet, and a circumference of 273 inches. The range of western larch is relatively small, and it tends to coincide closely with the Crown of the Continent region.

What is the largest tree in Montana?

Gus appears to be the largest larch tree in the world, and in fact, has been documented as the largest western larch. Gus is 163 feet high, plus another 10-foot dead top, and has a 273-inch circumference. The tree is thought to be about 1,000 years old.

Where to see larch trees in Montana?

A great place to see the western larch’s colorful display is along Highway 83 through the Seeley-Swan Valley and into the Flathead, said John Errecart, forest silviculturist for the Lolo National Forest. They also can be seen around Missoula, in the Bitterroot Range and north to Glacier National Park.

Are there larches in Montana?

Western larch, found in western Montana and in northern Idaho, is the largest of the American larches — the U.S. Forest Service notes has discovered 700-year-old trees with a girth eight feet in diameter towering 150 feet high.

How old are the trees in Montana?

In Montana, the order could have far-reaching consequences for mature forests from the Yaak Valley to the Bitterroot Mountains, where isolated stands of undisturbed western hemlock, western red cedar, and grand fir can reach more than 500 years of age.

What kind of trees are in Big Sky Montana?

Montana State Tree: Ponderosa Pine (Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa) | Montana, Montana state, Big sky country.

Do larch trees turn red?

The cones start out red or yellow, turning to brown as they mature. Native to many parts of Northern Europe and Asia as well as Northern parts of North America, larches are happiest in cold climates. They grow best in mountainous areas but tolerate any cool climate with plenty of moisture.

Why do Tamaracks change color?

While that may sound scary, for certain trees it’s simply a way of life. Though they’re in the minority, there are several deciduous conifers out there, such as the tamarack, bald cypress, and the larch. Just like their broad-leafed cousins, trees change color in the fall before losing all their needles.

What is the oldest tree in Yellowstone?

An independent scientist from Bozeman has documented some astonishingly ancient trees in Yellowstone National Park. John King has found live juniper trees 1,500 years old in the Mammoth Hot Springs area, and a live limber pine in the Absaroka Range that is an incredible 1,921 years old.

Does Montana have forest?

Western Montana’s Public Forestlands Montana’s national forests contain most of the state’s designated wilderness areas and Western Montana claims more than 8 million acres of national forestland made up of jagged mountains, rolling foothills, pristine woodlands, sparkling lakes and rivers and remote wilderness.

What is the fastest growing tree in Montana?

Specifically, the Quaking Aspen can grow up to 5 feet per year, making it another fast-growing shade tree. It has heart-shaped leaves that turn a beautiful golden hue during the autumn months. This tree can reach a height of up to 50 feet when fully mature.

What trees grow the best in Montana?

5 Shade Trees That Grow Well in Montana

• American Sycamore. American sycamores are large, stately trees that can reach up to 100 feet tall when mature.
• American Red Maple. For a jaw-dropping fall landscape, consider planting an American red maple.
• Sugar Maple.
• Quaking Aspen.
• River Birch.

What is so special about about the larch trees?

Larches are known for autumnal displays of yellow-gold needles that make them not only particularly attractive but also hardier than other conifers. The tree is bare during the winter and hence the needles cannot get damaged by extreme cold.

What is special about a tamarack tree?

Correctly planted, tamaracks are the fastest growing boreal conifers for their first 50 years. Expect your tree to live between 200 and 300 years. Care for tamarack trees is easy, once they are correctly established. They require virtually no work other than irrigation and keeping down competing trees.