Metasequoia glyptostroboides   Dawn Redwood Taxodiaceae

  Metasequoia glyptostroboides   Metasequoia glyptostroboides

  Cinnamon-colored bark, muscular trunk is characteristic of the Dawn Redwood.
Opposite arrangement; the Coastal Redwood has an alternate arrangement.
Moderate to fast growth, up to 150'. "-oides" always means "like" - so, like another genus in the family. New spring foliage is bright green. Deciduous. Needles are 1/2 to 3/4" long. Green to brown 1" cones in autumn.

Design height is 40', mature height 90'.

Low maintenance. Prefers full to part sun, high to moderate water, loam and sand. Little pruning required, keep central leader. Use as a grove tree, or specimen tree. Can be used as a screen, bonsai or accent.

Known only from fossils until 1941, rediscovered by botanists in Sichuan Province, China.
It's been used successfully as a beautiful hedge. Kept low, provides soft edge.

Photos are from UC Botanical Garden; we've also seen it at Strybing Arboretum.