Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn redwood
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Taxonomy
Family Cupressaceae · Genus Metasequoia
Description
Metasequoia glyptostroboides, the dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer with soft, feathery foliage that turns copper-bronze in fall. Once thought extinct and rediscovered in China, it’s a graceful, stately tree for spacious landscapes, thriving in sun and moist soils.
Common Names
Dawn redwoodMetasequoiaShui-shanWater fir
Context
nativeRegion
South-central China (Hubei, Hunan, and Chongqing/Sichuan areas).
usdaZones
4–8
companionPlants
Taxodium distichum (Bald cypress), Nyssa sylvatica (Black gum), Acer rubrum (Red maple), Quercus bicolor (Swamp white oak), Salix spp. (Willows), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush), Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (Cinnamon fern)
culturalUses
Iconic ornamental shade and park tree; valued as a “living fossil” and conservation emblem; used in avenues, rain gardens, and bonsai.
Care
Care Requirements
LightFull sun (6+ hours); tolerates light shade but best form and fall color in full sun.
WateringKeep evenly moist, especially first 2–3 years; thrives in wet soils and along water; do not let young trees dry out.
SoilDeep, moist, slightly acidic loam is ideal; adaptable to clay, periodic flooding, and average garden soils.
FertilizerYoung trees: apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring; mature trees usually need none unless soil is poor.
HumidityNot fussy; tolerates a wide range of outdoor humidity once established.
TemperatureHardy to about −30°F (−34°C); performs best in USDA zones 4–8; needs consistent moisture in hot summers.
Growth & Life Cycle
HabitDeciduous conifer; strongly pyramidal in youth, broadening with age; fluted, buttressed trunk; soft, opposite feathery needles.
Mature Size60–100 ft tall and 25–40 ft wide; exceptional specimens can exceed this.
Growth RateFast (often 2–4 ft per year under good conditions).
BloomingInconspicuous; male catkin-like cones late winter to spring; round seed cones ripen in fall.
DormancyDeciduous; needles bronze and drop in late fall, re-leafing in spring.
Propagation
MethodsSeed (cold stratification), Softwood cuttings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
DifficultyEasy to moderate
Best SeasonLate spring to midsummer for cuttings; late winter to early spring for sowing stratified seed.
Maintenance & Notes
PruningMinimal; prune in late winter to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and to maintain a single leader; avoid topping.
RepottingNot applicable for in-ground trees; for containers/bonsai, repot every 2–3 years in early spring.
Pests & DiseasesGenerally trouble-free; occasional leaf spot, canker, needle blight, bagworms, or spider mites; drought stress can cause browning.
ToxicityNon-toxic to humans and pets.
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