Metasequoia glyptostroboides

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dawn redwood

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Synonyms

Metasequoia honshuenensis

Conifers Trees
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A vigorous, fast-growing conifer with fibrous, orange-brown bark, making a large, narrowly conical tree to 25m tall. Soft, bright green leaflets are held in two opposite ranks, giving the leaves a feathery appearance. Unusually for a conifer, this species is deciduous and the foliage takes on a tawny brown colour before dropping in autumn. An excellent specimen tree to grow where space is not an issue

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Metasequoia is a large deciduous tree with reddish-brown fibrous bark and soft, pale green linear leaves arranged in two ranks on the shoots, colouring beautifully in autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
C. China (N.W. Hubei)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Will tolerate dry and chalky soils although growth will be slower. See conifer cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, hardwood or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus