is this plant or a tree and invasive species? - Ask Extension
I uploaded this plant from Rome, Georgia, thinking it was a pine tree and planning to plant it, symbolically here in my yard in Minnesota. However, Iâ...
Knowledgebase
is this plant or a tree and invasive species? #928880
Asked April 19, 2026, 4:01 PM EDT
I uploaded this plant from Rome, Georgia, thinking it was a pine tree and planning to plant it, symbolically here in my yard in Minnesota. However, I’m not sure that it is a pine tree. AI told me it could be a Cyprus spruce, which could be an invasive species, but it was unsure. Would you be able to help me to determine if it is safe to plant here? I would never want to plant something that could be invasive.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
My Picture This app says it is a Tamarack, aka American Larch, Eastern Larch, etc. See these web pages.Â
https://trees.umn.edu/tamarack-larix-laricina#:~:text=In%20the%20southern%20distribution%2C%20they,tall%20with%20a%20pyramidal%20shape.
https://campustrees.umn.edu/tamarack
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chamaecyparis/
Tamaracks grow in zones 2 to 5 which is Minnesota. Rome Georgia is zone 8a, which puzzles me. Your tree should be much happier here than there.Â
Spruce needles are short and immerge from the twig individually. They are sharp on the ends like touching the point of a pin. Tamarack needles are in clusters like those shown in your pictures. Cyprus needles are scales somewhat like cedar. See this web page. Â
https://www.treehugger.com/identify-name-tree-using-leaf-key-1343488
May I suggest that you do your horticultural research by putting the plant name in the search box followed by ".edu." This will point you to research based information from Minnesota or other state extension services.Â
https://trees.umn.edu/tamarack-larix-laricina#:~:text=In%20the%20southern%20distribution%2C%20they,tall%20with%20a%20pyramidal%20shape.
https://campustrees.umn.edu/tamarack
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chamaecyparis/
Tamaracks grow in zones 2 to 5 which is Minnesota. Rome Georgia is zone 8a, which puzzles me. Your tree should be much happier here than there.Â
Spruce needles are short and immerge from the twig individually. They are sharp on the ends like touching the point of a pin. Tamarack needles are in clusters like those shown in your pictures. Cyprus needles are scales somewhat like cedar. See this web page. Â
https://www.treehugger.com/identify-name-tree-using-leaf-key-1343488
May I suggest that you do your horticultural research by putting the plant name in the search box followed by ".edu." This will point you to research based information from Minnesota or other state extension services.Â
PS. It is not invasive.
