Species

Tamarack

(Larix laricina)

Tamarack is a softwood species that belongs to the Pinacea family. It has the particularity of loosing its needles in fall, making it easily distinguishable in winter. This tree is found almost everywhere in Canada. Tamarack grows in association with black spruce, balsam fir, aspen and birch, mainly in poorly drained environments that make it a difficult species to harvest. It can reach 25 m in height, 50 cm in diameter and live 150 years. At the age of 30, this resinous species can yield up to 194 m³/ha. Its virtually rot-proof wood is ideal for outdoor use, not only as shingles, but also for patio furniture and decks. It is a very high quality wood that is handsome in appearance. The difference in colour between the tamarack’s earlywood and darker toned latewood creates an attractive striped pattern that makes for eye-catching furniture and finishing lumber.

Color

Tamarack has yellowish-brown heartwood and somewhat whitish sapwood. Its annual growth rings are fairly easy to see and the transition from earlywood to latewood is abrupt. Outside in harsher weather conditions, the wood changes colour over time and turns silvery grey.

Texture

Tamarack is coarse-textured and often spiral-grained. The wood is more or less oily and somewhat waxy to the touch.

Qualities

The densest softwood in North America, tamarack has excellent dimensional stability and a good modulus of elasticity that is often comparable to that of hardwoods. It is very appreciated in structural applications, particularly for its high resistance to bending and compression. Easy to saw, its processing must take into account the possible presence of cross-grain and resin. Drying is also easy but slow. Nailing and screwing require pilot holes. Tamarack wood has strong mechanical properties with regard to bending and compression. Unlike several other species, it is highly resistant to rot and does not need chemical treatments.

Common applications

Roof shingles. Patio, deck and veranda wood. Bridges, piers and pilings. Posts and pickets. Mouldings and rosettes for indoor and outdoor use. Boats and covering for canoes. Flooring, decking and panelling. Garden furniture.

Machine properties in decreasing order of the overall performance of 17 species*

Species	Planing good to excellent	Sanding excellent	Boring brad point good to excellent	Boring multiple spur good to excellent	Mortising fair to excellent	Shaping fair to excellent	Turning fair to excellent	Average
Red pine	83	68	96	80	78	72	96	82
Yellow birch	89	52	98	86	56	78	100	80
Eastern white ceddar	71	94	100	68	56	60	98	78
Hard maple	69	82	98	100	38	56	100	78
Jack pine	57	84	94	76	62	58	94	75
Aspen	74	4	98	66	98	86	96	75
Tamarack	49	84	98	64	66	82	72	74
White birch	70	8	98	88	66	74	100	72
Black spruce	66	52	92	80	52	68	90	71
Eastern white pine	78	52	100	86	24	58	100	71
Soft maple	63	40	92	98	42	50	100	69
Scots pine	66	40	96	80	36	70	94	69
Norway spruce	66	74	96	56	70	58	50	67
White spruce	67	52	92	50	44	74	62	63
Balsam fir	47	54	94	62	64	52	54	61
Sugi	91	66	96	54	24	60	30	60
Hemlock	36	72	94	56	18	66	6	50

* Values are the pourcentage of tested specimens reaching the indicated performance.

Standard dimensions available

	THICKNESS BY WIDTH (LENGTH)
	Imperial system	Metric system
Decking	5/4’’ × 6’’ (6’ à 16’)6/4’’ × 6’’ (6’ à 16’)	31,8 mm × 152,4 mm (1,83 m à 4,88 m)38,1 mm × 152,4 mm (1,83 m à 4,88 m)
Flooring	4/4’’ × 4’’ (4’ à 8’)4/4’’ × 6’’ (4’ à 8’)	25,4 mm × 101,6 mm (1,22 m à 2,44 m)25,4 mm × 152,4 mm (1,22 m à 2,44 m)
Mine timbers	6’’ × 6’’ (16’)8’’ × 8’’ (16’)	152,4 mm × 152,4 mm (4,88 m)203,2 mm × 203,2 mm (4,88 m)
Railroad ties	7’’ × 9’’ (6’ à 8’)4’’ × 6’’ (6’ à 8’)	177,8 mm × 228,6 mm (1,83 m à 2,44 m)101,6 mm × 152,4 mm (1,83 m à 2,44 m)
Shingles	¾’’ × 4’’ (10’)¾’’ × 5’’ (10’)¾’’ × 6’’ (10’)¾’’ × 7’’ (10’)	19,1 mm × 101,6 mm (3,05 m)19,1 mm × 127,0 mm (3,05 m)19,1 mm × 152,4 mm (3,05 m)19,1 mm × 177,8 mm (3,05 m)
Structural elements for bridges	8’’ × 10’’ (40’)6’’ × 6’’ (12’)8’’ × 8’’ (12’)	203,2 mm × 254,0 mm (12,20 m)152,4 mm × 152,4 mm (3,66 m)203,2 mm × 203,2 mm (3,66 m)
Glulam beams	2’’ × 3’’ (3’ à 8’)	50,8 mm × 76,2 mm (0,91 m à 2,44 m)
Mouldings	1’’ × 2’’ (6’ à 10’)	25,4 mm × 50,8 mm (1,83 m à 3,05 m)
Wood for boxes and crates	4‘’ × 4’’ (4’)4’’ × 6’’ (4’)	101,6 mm × 101,6 mm (1,22 m)101,6 mm × 152,4 mm (1,22 m)
Edge-glued lumber for trailer beds	2’’ × 3’’ (32’’ à 10’)2’’ × 4’’ (32’’ à 10’)2’’ × 6’’ (32’’ à 10’)	50,8 mm × 76,2 mm (0,81 m à 3,05 m)50,8 mm × 101,6 mm (0,81 m à 3,05 m)50,8 mm × 152,4 mm (0,81 m à 3,05 m)

Net dimensions may vary depending on the producer. Other dimensions produced upon request.

Note: When tamarack is marketed as dimension or structural lumber, its quality is determined by the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) and bears the stamp of the Northern Species group – N. Species, or of the Eastern Hemlock-Tamarack group – Hem-Tam (N) (NLGA 2005, paragraphs 121, 124, 130 and 131).