Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Foliage: Dark Green
Fall Foliage: Russet Fruit: Sparse Habit/Form: Pyramidal Uses: Screening, General Garden Use, Large Areas, Specimen |
Zone Hardiness: 4
Plant Height: 70 - 100 ft Plant Width: 15 - 25 ft Light: Sun Growth Rate: Fast |
This is a large, fast-growing, deciduous, pyramidal tree. Its fine feathery leaves are certainly a standout feature, and even though this tree is deciduous, it produces rounded cones. The leaves emerge light green in spring, changing to dark green in summer, then a russet-brown in autumn. Bark reddish-brown when young, darker, fissuring, and exfoliating in strips when mature. The dawn redwood was long thought to be extinct — with evidence of its existence found among dinosaur fossils — until it was discovered alive and well in a rural, mountainous area of China. It is now grown worldwide. This plant prefers moist, deep, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. It is tolerant of wet soils but prefers best in moist, well-drained, slightly, acidic soil. This plant has minimal pest and disease problems. It can be utilized as a specimen tree for large areas such as parks, golf courses, large commercial or governmental grounds. It is also tolerant of pollution and can be used as a street tree. It needs plenty of room to grow as it can grow to be 25' wide. This tree provides winter cover for birds, small mammals and deer. An impressive tree!