08/29/2026
At Midway Village, we have two Tamarack trees located just south of the Old Stone Schoolhouse. If you take a quick look, you may think they are a pine tree because they have green needles on their limbs. But that is not the case, and we are very fortunate to have two mature species.
So, what is so special about a Tamarack tree?
The Tamarack tree (a.k.a. American Larch Tamarack) is a unique conifer that defies typical evergreen rules. It is a deciduous conifer, meaning it has soft needles but sheds them all in the fall. Its most fascinating and special characteristics include:
1. As a conifer, it is a cone-bearing tree. It bears its seeds in cones that drop every year.
2. It’s a Deciduous Conifer: Unlike pines or spruces, Tamaracks (and other larches) lose all their needles every autumn, leaving a knobby, bare silhouette for the winter. Before they drop, the soft, clustered needles turn a spectacular golden-yellow.
3. Extreme Cold Tolerance: Tamaracks are one of the most cold-hardy trees on the planet. They are built to withstand temperatures as low as −80 °F and commonly grow at the Arctic tree line.
4. Bog & Wetland Adaptation: While most conifers detest having wet roots, tamaracks naturally thrive in nutrient-poor environments like bogs and swamps.
5. Tough, Useful Wood: The wood is heavy, rot-resistant, and burns fiercely hot. Its historical uses are varied: Indigenous peoples used the flexible roots to sew birch bark on canoes and the wood to make snowshoes. Early settlers also used the rot-resistant wood for railroad ties and fence posts.
The American Larch Tamarack trees grow mainly in the northern states and rarely grow any further south than Northern Illinois. Next time you visit Midway Village, take time to stop and admire these two lovely species of the American Larch Tamarack family.
~ By Brad Keyes
Chief Facilities Consultant, Midway Village Museum
