Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

General Information Common Name  Dawn Redwood Scientific Name  Metasequoia glyptostroboides Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  35 - 61  m (115 - 200 ft) Spread  15 - 30 m (50 - 100 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green, Flower Color  Green Type  Tree Native  USA, Asia, Europe.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Coniferophyta – Conifers Class  Pinopsida Subclass  Order  Pinales Family  Cupressaceae – Cypress family Genus  Metasequoia –  Dawn Redwood Species  M. glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides commonly known as Dawn Redwood, is native to China. Although shortest of the redwoods, it grows to at least 61 m (200 ft) in height. Previously it had been known to science only as a fossilhence, now, its odd name and fame as the ‘fossil tree’. It grows naturally only in isolated areas in East Szechwan and West Hopeh, China, Where it thrives best in shady moist localities, in ravines and on stream banks. By 1948, seedlings were being raised in Europe, and because the tree strikes fairly easily from cuttings it has since been widely planted as specimens by arboriculturists, and in a few small groves by silviculturists, as in 1953 at Leighton in Montgomeryshire, Huntley in Gloucestershire, and in 1955 at Bedgebury in Kent.

The tree has ascending branches, and persistent branchlets (reddish-brown when young) which carry green deciduous branchlets 8 cm or more in length. The small opposite winter buds are usually below the scar of the side shoot. The two-ranked needles, usually 2.5 cm or more in length, are arranged in intricate and delicate patterns. It is one of the first trees to show green in spring – a pale fresh green – later turning to bright green on the upper surface lighter green or slightly glaucous on the under surface. Throughout summer the foliage changes through various shades of greenish-bronze, often with a pinkish tinge. In year of average autumn colors, the foliage has a moderately long spell of a yellowish pink and salmon pink before going pale brown, but in good sunny years it changes from this pink through brick-red to a rich dark rust-red. In autumn the needles are reddish-brown before they are shed along with the deciduous branchlets.

The male flower is ovoid, up to 1 cm long; the female conelet is sub-globose or short cylindrical, about 2 cm long, and pendulous.

The rough bark is soft and of pinkish-buff or reddish-brown shades. The older European trees are beginning to develop the picturesque ruggedness reported from China an unfortunately for the silviculturists, to develop knotty, ridged and pocketed boles with rapid taper. The tree grows rapidly at first (up to 1 m a year) and continues to tallest are already over 20 m. (66 ft).

Dawn Redwood is proving a fascinating ornamental tree and is particularly welcome for its spring and summer foliage, and its autumn tints. Even in winter the bare stems are enriched by the red-brown flakes of bark and pale brown, smooth stem between the raised flakes. 

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood in Autumn

The Leaves of Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood Cones Female

Female Cones of Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood Female Cones

Dawn Redwood Female Cone

Dawn Redwood Male Cones 

Dawn Redwood Cones (Male & Female)

Dawn Redwood Bark

Dawn Redwood Bark

Bark of Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood Bark

Dawn Redwood Bark

Barks of Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood in Winter

Dawn Redwood in Winter

Dawn Redwood in Autumn

Dawn Redwood in Autumn

Dawn Redwood in Autumn

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood as Ornamental 

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

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