Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- met-uh-see-KWOY-uh glip-toh-stroh-BOY-deez
- Description
-
This is a large, fast-growing, deciduous, pyramidal evergreen tree that grows up to 100' tall with attractive, feathery foliage that is easy to transplant. It has spreading branches that droop with age. Pin branchlets are paired, and drop as a unit. This plant prefers moist, deep, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. It is tolerant of wet soils but intolerant of early freezes. 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, and as a "living fossil". 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. Dawn Redwood was discovered during a plant expedition into remote China in the 1940s. It was first known from a fossil record, not living extant plants.
Japanese beetles will eat the foliage.
Quick ID Hints:
- Deciduous gymnosperms dropping pins
- Pins are opposite and resemble small pinnate leaves
- Female cones are pendulous and ellipsoidal
- Face view of cone scale looks like puckered lips
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Bonsai Garden in Davidson County Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Souto Sun Garden Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Sunken Pond Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Miss Grace'
- 'Ogon'
- Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Hamlet's Broom', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Miss Grace'
- 'Ogon'
- Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Hamlet's Broom', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Metasequoia
- Species:
- glyptostroboides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and western China
- Distribution:
- US
- Wildlife Value:
- This tree provides winter cover for birds, small mammals and deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 62 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Confiers so do not produce fruits, they produce cones. Trees are monoecious. Female cones are pendulous, dark brown, ellipsois or "barrel-like", up to an inch long and less than an inch wide, have 14-28 scales, and have an apical surface that is depressed medially. Male cones are globose and 1/2" long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Flowers not showy; 0.7-1 in. dark brown cones on long stalks
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are linear, subopposite, crowded on pins, pliable, feathery, fern-like, and soft to the touch. Foliage emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall. Below, leaves are light green in color and have 2 inconspicuous stomatal bands. Leaves are less than an inch long and wide.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting. Bark on mature trees is often deeply fissured.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Buds are opposite, in pairs at the base of pins or deciduous branchlets. They are ovoid to ellipsoidal in shape, and less than an inch long.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
