This tree was first brought to North America shortly after three living specimens were identified in Southwest China in the autumn of 1947 by T. Trunk: pyramidal, heavily buttressed with age, orange/brownįorm: VERY finely pyramidal with upright diagonal branches to 46 degrees These they fall to the ground after turning a beautiful orange in late autumn.Ĭones (female): up to 3/4″, ovular, light to deep brown at maturity, strongly resemble Giant Sequoia cones
Foliage, arranged in a flat spray (like Taxus ssp.,Sequoia ssp., Sequoiadendron ssp., and Taxodium ssp.) have less prominent midribs than Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum var. Needles: These grow on narrow, pyramid-shaped branches.
Seeds germinate best in sandy soils.Īir Requirements: Air pollution usually isn’t a problem. Soil requirements: Moist, humusy, well-drained soils are preferred. Tolerates: deer, clay soil, wet soil, air pollution Height: usually 21-30 meters (70-100 feet)ĭiameter: spreads 4.5-7.5 meters (15-25 feet), buttressed bases are broad and taperedĪge: Most cultivated species are younger than 70 years old due to its recent discovery. Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) Discovered as fossils 50,000,000 years ago, these trees are truly miraculous. These are critically endangered, with about 5,000 in their native habitat, although many gardens and universities (emu, siuc) have these. These were discovered in China in the 1900’s, where only 3 specimens remained. Dawn Redwoods appear similar to Bald Cypress trees, although these have more buttressed trunks, drooping branches/foliage, and Giant Sequoia/Coast Redwood like cones. Consider giving Dawn Redwood a home in your landscape and preserving one of the Earth's most ancient of known species.I was initially inclined to create an article about these magnificent trees upon seeing two mature specimens cared for by a plant ecologist at Eastern Illinois University. This is a very special tree, historically as well as botanically. Presently the only place to view a large number of Dawn Redwoods in the wild is China. (Relentless cone collection from the wild population in China has largely prevented the natural reproduction of the original 1943 trees.) In 1995 a grove named the Crescent Ridge Dawn Redwoods Preserve was planted in the Appalachian region of North Carolina, and it is hoped that one day this 50-acre stand of trees will become established enough to become a public park (2035 is the target date for opening the preserve to the public). Metasequoia glyptostroboides is nearly extinct in the wild, and is on the critically endangered list. This part of the world was once its home, and you will find Dawn Redwood quite adaptable to nearly any condition except dry soil. Dawn Redwood seems to thrive best in almost rainforest conditions, which the high humidity in much of the U.S. As you might expect, Dawn Redwood is not drought-tolerant at all, particularly when young, so take care to select a spot that acquires constant moisture with or without your intervention.Įasy to care for, Dawn Redwood has been found to be very tolerant of urban pollution. Dawn Redwood loves moist to wet soils, so it's a natural choice for a waterside planting, and poor soil drainage is a godsend to its thirsty roots. This pyramidal tree is a glorious landmark in any large-scale setting.
After just 10 years Dawn Redwood may be 10 to 15 feet tall after 30 Dawn Redwood could be as much as 50 feet high, and ultimately Dawn Redwood will reach 100 or more feet high, with a trunk several feet in diameter at the base. This tree grows quickly, often creating buttress roots (raised roots above the soil on all sides of the trunk, helping to support it and to access surface nutrients) that add to Dawn Redwoods stunning ornamental appeal. In autumn, the needles turn a deep brownish shade of red before droppinga splendid sight.
Do not miss the chance to grow Dawn Redwood.ĭawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer with fresh green foliage and small, scaly cones (present only in hot-summer climates). Thanks to seedling distribution by Harvard's Arnold Arboretum and the dedication of plantsmen around the world, specimens of this magnificent tree are now available for home gardens. It was believed to be extinct worldwide until 1943, when Zhan Wang discovered a grove in China. Metasequoia glyptostroboides once blanketed North America (some 35 million years ago), but vanished long, long ago. If you have the space to grow the Dawn Redwood, you owe it not only to yourself but to the neighborhood and the larger landscape to grow this exceptional ancient tree.
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