Mark A. Miller
Family
Cupressaceae
Botanical Name
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Plant Common Name
Dawn Redwood
General Description
This deciduous conifer is a fast-growing, imposing relative of the redwood. Native to China, it was known only from the fossil record until a few trees were discovered in 1944 and identified in 1948. Today it is grown and loved the world over for its feathery foliage, muscular trunk and magnificent, narrow, pyramidal habit. The bark is shredded and reddish brown, eventually becoming beautifully gnarled and rugged with chocolate brown and orange tones. With age, the trunk becomes broadly grooved and buttressed at its base.
The needle leaves are soft and bright green with two lighter green bands on their undersides. They arise from seasonal, deciduous stems that are oppositely arranged on the permanent, upward-reaching branches. Small, inconspicuous flowers bloom in late spring among the foliage, and female blossoms become small, rounded cones--first powdery blue and then brown. In autumn, the foliage turns a rich orange to bronze, illuminating the landscape before dropping to reveal the tree’s picturesque silhouette.
Give the dawn redwood tree ample growing space in full sun and moist, acidic or neutral soil. It tolerates wet locations and is quite drought-tolerant once established. It is not good in highly alkaline soils, exposed to seaspray or hot, dry, windy climates. Use it as an imposing and noble specimen tree in a large lawn or park or in a clustered grove. If the planting bed is quite wide, rows of dawn redwood will create an allee, but be aware the roots can disrupt sidewalks and the smooth grade of turfgrass. The cultivar 'Ogon' is a yellow-leaved form that is slower growing and not as tall at maturity.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 5
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 9
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Sunset Zone
A3, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
70'-110' / 21.3m - 33.5m
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Width
20'-25' / 6.1m - 7.6m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring
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Native To
China
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Light Green
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Fruit Color
Light Blue, Brown, Chocolate
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Light Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Orange, Bronze
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Bark Color
Orange, Sienna, Chocolate
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Bark Color Modifier
Multi-Color, Striped/Striated
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
