The larch is the only native conifer that sheds its needles in autumn. Larches have a long, straight trunk, which, however, depending on their origin, may also be more tapered. They grow up to 50 m tall. Depending on their location and species, their diameter measures approximately 40 to 90 cm with trunks that are free of branches up to approximately 15 m.

The appearance of larch wood is largely determined by the formation of the width of the latewood bands. The dense growth ring widths produce a clear grain on the longitudinal section. The fine, vertical and radial resin ducts can be identified on the longitudinal surface by dot-like resin pockets. Narrow sapwood (see sapwood).

Species with growth rings 2 to 3 mm wide are included among the comparatively hard types of coniferous wood.

The yellowish white to pinkish sapwood only stands out intensely from the yellowish brown to reddish brown heartwood once it has been dried and become darker (heartwood tree). The change in the growth rings from the light earlywood bands and the dark latewood bands produces a decorative, fine streaky pattern.

In regions with distinctive seasons, the wood forms earlywood in the first part of the growth phase. If the tree has formed leaves, the growth rate decreases. The wood that is formed in this second period of growth (late summer, autumn) is called latewood. The cells are tightly packed, have thick walls and are dark in colour. Due to the different cell formation, earlywood and latewood in some species of wood are characterised by their differences in colour.