Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- met-uh-see-KWOY-uh glip-toh-stroh-BOY-deez
- Description
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Dawn redwood is a deciduous conifer tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is native to central and western China, where fossil records show it has existed for at least 50 million years. This tree was first known from a fossil record, not from living extant plants, and its common name refers to its ancient origins in the “dawn” of time. Living specimens were first discovered during a plant expedition into remote China in the 1940s. The specific epithet glyptostroboides means “resembling Glyptostrobus,” because it was first wrongly identified as Glyptostrobus pensilis, Chinese swamp cypress.
This tree prefers full sun and moist, deep, well-drained soils that are neutral or slightly acidic. It does well in soils high in organic matter and in clay soils. This tree is tolerant of occasional wet soils but intolerant of early freezes. Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. It transplants easily and is tolerant of pollution and resistant to deer.
Dawn redwood is a fast-growing, pyramidal tree that grows up to 100 feet tall and spreads up to 25 feet wide with attractive, feathery foliage. It has spreading branches that droop with age and deeply fissured bark. The foliage turns a brownish copper color in the fall before being shed.
This tree needs plenty of room to grow and 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 does well along ponds and in water gardens. Given its tolerance for pollution, it can also be used as a street tree.
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.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant has minimal pest and disease problems. Japanese beetles will, however, eat the foliage.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed 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:
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- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Miss Grace'
- 'Ogon'
- Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Hamlet's Broom', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- Tags:
Download Image
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Miss Grace'
- 'Ogon'
- Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- 'Hamlet's Broom'
- 'Hamlet's Broom', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
- Tags:
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-
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
