Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides · Deciduous Conifer (Softwood)
Plant Family
Cupressaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Shade Tree / Deciduous Conifer
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / Straight species (unspecified cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5a through 8b. Tolerates winter lows down to -20°F (-29°C) and hot, humid summers.
About This Tree
A fast-growing, deciduous conifer featuring a straight central leader and a neat pyramidal to conical crown. It displays feathery, soft-textured foliage arranged in opposite pairs along delicate branchlets, resembling bald cypress but distinguished by opposite leaf and branch placement. Reddish-brown fibrous bark becomes deeply furrowed with age.
Leaf Characteristics
Needle-like, flat, soft leaves about 0.5 to 0.8 inches long, arranged in opposite pairs along branchlets. Light green in spring, dark green in summer, shifting to striking fox-red, apricot, or russet-brown in late autumn before dropping.
Bark Characteristics
Reddish-brown to grey-brown, fibrous, stringy, and peeling in vertical strips. Older trees develop buttressed trunks with pronounced armpit-like depressions under main branches.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Sichuan and Hubei provinces of south-central China; widely planted worldwide in temperate zones.
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring with bright lime green foliage, matures to deep green in summer, turns bronze-orange to russet-brown in autumn, and sheds leaves/branchlets in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best development. Prefers moist, deep, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; moderately tolerant of temporary wet conditions once established.
Mature Size
Reaches 70 to 100 feet in height with a spread of 25 to 30 feet at maturity. Rapid growth rate, often exceeding 2 to 3 feet per year when young. Lifespan can exceed 100+ years.
Special Characteristics
Living fossil species discovered in China in the 1940s after previously being known only from fossils. Excellent air pollution tolerance, vibrant russet fall color, and low maintenance needs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting cover and shelter for songbirds and small mammals. Cones supply occasional seeds for birds and squirrels, offering structural diversity in urban and park landscapes.