Botanical Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
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Common Name: Dawn Redwood  
Plant photo of: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree, Conifer

 

Height Range

40-60', 60-100'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Red

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Medium, High

 

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Japanese, Meadow, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Silhouette, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Lawn, Park, Street Tree

 

Special Uses

Screen, Mass Planting, Wind Break, Shade Tree

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Linda Engstrom/Sortomme

  • Description

  • Notes

The Metasequoia is a dense, pyramidal, deciduous conifer with a central leader and when planted under the correct conditions, is a fast grower. It has an opposite branching pattern, with branchlets of long, simple needles that appear to be flattened. Foliage emerges a bright green in spring, matures to a deep green, and has a tawny pink to golden bronze fall color. Its furrowed bark is attractive, orange-brown to red-brown and peels in vertical strips. A large tree, it grows 60 to 100 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide.
Best grown in moist, humusy, well-drained soils in full sun. Fast growing under ideal circumstances. Tolerates wet soils. Beware of winter wind damage in cold, dry areas.