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Metasequoia glyptostroboides is often confused with:
Taxodium distichum Taxodium distichum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Ginkgo biloba Form
Lagerstroemia indica Full shrub in bloom
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra

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', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#specimen#large tree#fine texture#pyramidal#bonsai#tsc#street tree#fast growing#well-drained soil#deer resistant#showy cones#Braham Arboretum#fantz#parks#tsc-cg#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp#hs111#hs303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Hamlet's Broom'
  • 'Miss Grace'
  • 'Ogon'
  • Schirrmann's Nordlicht
'Hamlet's Broom', 'Miss Grace', 'Ogon', Schirrmann's Nordlicht
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#specimen#large tree#fine texture#pyramidal#bonsai#tsc#street tree#fast growing#well-drained soil#deer resistant#showy cones#Braham Arboretum#fantz#parks#tsc-cg#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp#hs111#hs303
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Description:
    Flowers not showy; 0.7-1 in. dark brown cones on long stalks
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Wet Soil