Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Dawn redwood was believed to be extinct for centuries. Until first specimen were brought from China in 1941 and propagated throughout the world. It is a deciduous conifer which, thanks to its flat, fresh green needles, is often mistaken for swamp cypress (taxodium distichum). The needles are soft and turn bright yellow and golden orange in autumn.

It is a fast grower, slowing down only after it reaches some 10 m tall. It forms a very narrowly conical shape with branches from the bottom unless the stem is cleared to look like a standard tree, and in order to reveal the beautiful, fluted, and peeling bark of the lower trunk - grey brown to dark orange brown, showing reddish tissue when freshly peeled off. Pruning, if desired, can be done at the end of winter but is not necessary, only to shape young plants if unsightly.

Being closely related to swamp cypress, it also likes constantly moist soil, some sources even say that the roots can stand in shallow water. We have been growing dawn redwood in partly water-logged location and it is doing fine. Just make sure not to overwater freshly transplanted plants in root-ball. The soil should be humus-rich, acidic to alkaline. Fully hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 01-01-2007; 16-01-2017