Eastern Larch is the only deciduous conifer native to Ohio. And yet, I seldom see it in Central Ohio. Baldcypress and Dawn Redwood are far more common, in my experience, but they’re mostly seen in landscaping. As one would expect of a conifer, American Larch (Tamarack, Larix laricina) has needles, but they don’t occur in bundles of 2, 3, or 5, as in the case with pines. Nor do they occur in straight rows, as with Baldcypress. Tamarack needles are whorled, and grow in clusters of 10 to 20, and thus, resemble true cedars (Cedrus). But cedars have evergreen needles, while Tamarack sheds its needles in winter. (Remember that Ohio’s native “cedars”, Eastern Redcedar and Arborvitae (Northern White Cedar), aren’t really cedars, and their needles aren’t whorled. True cedars with their whorled, evergreen needles are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa). Additionally, Tamarack needles grow at the end of woody spur shoots, similar to the spur shoots of Gingko. Larch and true cedars are the only conifers with needles at the end of spur shoots.