Description
Metasequoia glyptostroboides – Dawn Redwood
Brief Description: The Dawn Redwood is a living fossil, rediscovered in China in 1941 after previously only being known from fossils. As a deciduous conifer, it displays beautiful copper and rust-red hues in autumn before shedding its soft, opposite needles. With its slender, conical growth, characteristic orange-red bark, and rapid growth, it is one of the most impressive solitary trees for moist locations.
- Growth height approx. 35 m
- As a solitary tree in parks
- Wood use: furniture, boat building
- Sunny to partial shade
- Brown-red bark
- Growth 40–80 cm / year
Climatic Properties & Site Conditions: The Dawn Redwood thrives in fresh to moist, deep soils and grows particularly well near water bodies, in floodplains, and in areas with high groundwater. It also tolerates temporary flooding. In Southern Germany, it is ideal for the Alpine foothills, the Allgäu, the Lake Constance region, and river lowlands. Winter hardy down to –30 °C. On dry, shallow soils, its growth is significantly slower. It tolerates calcareous soils moderately.
Advantages: Spectacular autumn foliage in copper and rust-red, very fast growth, exceptional bark, excellent for moist sites, extremely winter hardy, botanically unique.
Disadvantages: Not native, deciduous – not evergreen, less suitable for dry sites, requires ample space, no ecological value for native fauna, pneumatophores can complicate lawn care.
