Its colors
golden yellow
When it turns here
first color about Oct 15, 2026, at its best Oct 25, 2026, fading by Nov 1, 2026, bare by Nov 3, 2026 (estimate).
this year, by the model, the forest here peaks about Oct 7, 2026.
Model of Oct 27, 2026.
How long it holds
Until its needles fall, late in the autumn; no figure in days.
Where it grows thickest
Bogs and wet ground throughout the region, more common northward and through Ontario, where it grows with black spruce; in Canada's boreal forest it forms pure stands.
bogs, with black spruce
its range outline comes to this page
By height
The Silvics chapter says it grows at about the same elevation throughout most of its range: it follows wet ground, not height.
From the road
A narrow, open conifer in bogs and swamps that turns gold and drops its needles after the hardwoods around it are bare.
Its pictures this autumn
Where to see it
pictures of it this autumn from …
- Prince Edward County, Quinte & Kingston, ON · 1 picture, newest Oct 5, 2026
- The Great North Woods & the northern White Mountains, NH · 1 picture, newest Oct 1, 2026
The sources’ own words
Evergreens, while they provide superb contrast, of course play no direct role, but one native conifer (i.e., cone-bearing tree), the eastern larch or tamarack, is probably the last tree species to turn color (golden yellow) in upstate New York and the Adirondacks.
The portion that burned over 100 years ago in the north center area of the swamp is now a black spruce/tamarack forest with thousands of golden tamarack in late October through early November, and many other colorful wetland trees and shrubs (including poison-sumac!) from mid September through early November).
This medium-sized coniferous tree is intolerant of shade, and is mostly found in swamps and other wet areas. It is unusual because, although it is a conifer, it is not an evergreen. Its short needles are produced in whorls, and all of them turn yellow in the late autumn and fall from the tree.
Golden colours of poplar species (background) and Tamarack (foreground) on October 17, 2016 at Ring-necked Pond in Algonquin Park (click to enlarge).
Larch, or tamarack, is found throughout Ontario, but is more common in the north. This coniferous tree has needles that turn yellow in autumn and drop off. Although larch grows on many sites, it prefers swamps or wet organic soils, and is usually associated with black spruce.
Tamarack grows on sites with about the same elevation throughout most of its range.
Tamarack forms extensive pure stands in the boreal region of Canada and in northern Minnesota.
Deciduous, flat needle, light green, appear in spirals on spur shoots after first year, 3/4 to 1 inch long, turn yellow in the fall.