Tamarack

Larix laricina

Pollinator Value

🔑 Keystone: Larix supports 119 lepidoptera species regionally, making it a keystone genus for caterpillar-dependent birds. Notable hosted moths include Panthea furcilla, Sphinx gordius, and Campaea perlata. Tamarack bogs provide critical habitat structure for specialist invertebrate communities adapted to boreal wetland conditions.
S13 119 species; S10 bog habitat structure
🐛 Larval Host: Panthea furcilla, Sphinx gordius, Campaea perlata, Lophocampa caryae, Hyalophora cecropia, Orgyia leucostigma, Macaria sexmaculata, Zale helata, Lapara bombycoides, Dysstroma walkerata, Tacparia detersata
S13+S15 11 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Spruce Grouse rely heavily on tamarack needles and buds as a winter food source, comprising up to 47.6% occurrence in diet studies. Seeds persist on branches into fall and winter, consumed by Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin. Porcupine feeds on the inner bark year-round.
S57 Spruce Grouse 47.6% occurrence; S10 Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Porcupine

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) and secure in both Ontario (S5) and Quebec (S5). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. IUCN status is Least Concern. Widespread across boreal Canada with no conservation concerns at the provincial or national level.
S22 G5, S5/S5; S26 not SARA-listed
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Tamarack is a dominant tree of boreal bogs, fens, and muskegs across the Canadian Shield, often codominant with black spruce (Picea mariana) in forested peatlands. In the Outaouais, it occurs in minerotrophic fens and sphagnum bogs on organic soils. It is the only native deciduous conifer in the region, casting light shade that supports a rich understory of ericaceous shrubs.
S6 sphagnum bogs and muskegs; S10 codominant with Black Spruce; S48 Gatineau fen specimens; S61 bogs, fens

Roles: Fortress/Barrier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)]

Category: Alterative, Analgesic, Antiemetic, Antirheumatic, Astringent, Blood Medicine, Burn Dressing, Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Dermatological Aid, Disinfectant, Diuretic, Expectorant, Febrifuge, Kidney Aid, Laxative, Strengthener, Tonic, Tuberculosis Remedy
S28 49 Moerman drug uses; S29 Alterative, Astringent, Disinfectant, Diuretic, Expectorant, Laxative, Tonic
Notes: Tamarack was extensively used by Indigenous peoples across boreal Canada. Bark tea served as an alterative, diuretic, laxative, and tonic for jaundice, anaemia, rheumatism, and colds. Leaf tea was astringent, used for diarrhoea and haemorrhoids. Poultice of warm boiled inner bark was applied to wounds, burns, frostbite, and deep cuts to draw out infection. Resin was chewed for indigestion. Classified as an approved herbal name by Health Canada NHPID.
S29 bark tea, leaf tea, poultice, resin; S28 Algonquin QC, Cree, Iroquois, Abnaki uses; S36 Health Canada approved

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Young shoots are used as an emergency food. A tea is made from the roots, branches, and needles. Anticosti Islanders traditionally brewed branches and needles into tea. Edibility is marginal and limited to survival or traditional beverage use.
S29 emergency food, tea from roots/branches/needles; S28 Anticosti tea