Overview

Introduce a majestic presence to your landscape with the Dawn Redwood tree (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). This live plant, provided in a quart pot and standing 6-12 inches tall, is a remarkable deciduous conifer known for its rapid growth and distinctive, feathery foliage. Unlike most conifers, the Dawn Redwood tree sheds its needles in the fall, revealing a beautiful, cinnamon-colored bark that adds winter interest. Originally thought to be extinct, this ancient species was rediscovered in China in the 1940s and has since become a popular choice for large yards, parks, and open spaces where its grand scale can be appreciated. Its columnar to pyramidal shape and impressive height make it an excellent choice for a future shade tree, providing a cool retreat during warm months and a striking architectural element year-round.

The Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a living fossil, offering a unique piece of botanical history for your garden. It adapts well to various soil conditions, preferring consistent moisture and full sun to achieve its impressive growth rate. With proper care, this young plant will quickly establish itself, transforming your outdoor environment with its elegance and stature. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, the Dawn Redwood tree is a rewarding plant that promises long-term beauty and ecological benefits.

Key Benefits

The Dawn Redwood tree offers a multitude of advantages for any landscape, making it a highly desirable choice for those seeking both beauty and performance. Its unique characteristics contribute significantly to its appeal and functionality:

• Rapid Growth Rate: This tree is renowned for its vigorous growth, often adding 2-4 feet in height per year. This makes it an ideal choice for quickly establishing a significant presence and providing shade in a relatively short period.
• Stunning Deciduous Foliage: Enjoy the soft, bright green needles in spring and summer, which transform into brilliant shades of coppery-bronze and reddish-brown in the fall before dropping. This seasonal color change adds dynamic visual interest to your landscape.
• Exceptional Shade Provider: Due to its impressive mature size (25-40 feet wide), the Dawn Redwood tree is an excellent choice for creating ample shade over large areas, perfect for patios, picnic spots, or play areas.
• Unique Bark and Form: Even in winter when dormant and leafless, the tree offers architectural beauty with its attractive, exfoliating, reddish-brown bark, providing year-round appeal. Its naturally elegant, pyramidal shape requires minimal pruning.
• Adaptable to Various Soils: While it prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil, the Dawn Redwood is quite tolerant of different soil types, making it versatile for many garden settings.
• Historical and Ecological Value: As a “living fossil,” planting a Metasequoia glyptostroboides connects you to ancient botanical history. It also provides habitat and shelter for local wildlife.
• Hardy and Resilient: Suitable for USDA Zones 4-8, this tree is quite cold-hardy and generally resistant to many common pests and diseases, ensuring a healthy and long-lived specimen.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Dawn Redwood tree is straightforward, especially when provided with its preferred growing conditions. This remarkable tree thrives with consistent attention, particularly during its establishment phase. The primary requirement for robust growth is adequate sunlight and moisture. Plant your Metasequoia glyptostroboides in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, full sun will encourage the fastest and healthiest growth. Ensure the planting site has good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.

Watering is crucial for the Dawn Redwood tree, especially during its early years and in dry periods. It prefers consistently moist soil, so regular watering is essential. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings. However, ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. A well-drained soil, ideally a loamy or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, is preferred. Amending heavy clay soils with organic matter can improve drainage. Once established, the tree becomes more tolerant of varying moisture levels but will always perform best with consistent hydration. Mulching around the base of the tree can help retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Fertilization can support vigorous growth, particularly in less fertile soils. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins. Follow product instructions for application rates. The shade tree for large yards is generally pest and disease resistant, but monitor for any signs of stress. During late fall and winter, expect the plant to be dormant, leafless. This is a natural part of its life cycle and not a cause for concern. Protect young trees from harsh winter winds in colder zones if necessary. Pruning is typically minimal, focusing on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain a strong structure and desired shape.

Size & Details

This offering includes one Dawn Redwood tree live plant, carefully cultivated and ready for planting. The plant measures approximately 6 to 12 inches in height from the top of the soil line and is supplied in a quart-sized nursery pot, providing a healthy root system for successful transplanting. While young, this fast growing redwood has the potential to become a truly magnificent specimen. At maturity, it can reach an impressive height of 70-100 feet and spread 25-40 feet wide, forming a majestic, pyramidal canopy. Its vigorous growth rate means you can expect it to add 2-4 feet in height annually under optimal conditions.

The dormant redwood plant during winter showcases its unique bark and structural beauty. It is an ideal plant for USDA Zones 4-8, indicating its hardiness across a wide range of climates. This tree is best suited for large properties, parks, or open landscapes where it has ample space to grow to its full potential without overcrowding. It prefers full sun exposure and consistently moist, well-drained soil. The plant will arrive healthy and ready to thrive, just needing the right spot in your garden to begin its journey to becoming a grand shade tree for large yards.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This Dawn Redwood tree is currently 6-12 inches tall in a quart pot. At maturity, it can reach impressive heights of 70-100 feet and spread 25-40 feet wide, making it a very large shade tree.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Dawn Redwood tree is an outdoor plant. It requires significant space to grow and is best suited for large yards, parks, and open landscapes where it can reach its full potential.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tree prefers full sun, meaning it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to achieve optimal growth and health. It can tolerate partial shade but will grow slower.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the Metasequoia glyptostroboides is relatively easy to care for. Its main requirements are full sun, consistently moist, well-drained soil, and sufficient space to grow.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your dormant redwood plant will arrive healthy and well-packaged in a quart pot, ready for planting. During late fall and winter, it will be dormant and leafless, which is normal for this deciduous conifer.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant a Dawn Redwood tree is in spring or early fall. This allows the tree to establish its root system before the stress of summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This fast growing redwood is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8. If you are within these zones, it should survive winter without issue, though young plants may benefit from some protection in the coldest parts of its range.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: It prefers well-drained soil, ideally a loamy or sandy loam. It’s important that the soil retains moisture but does not become waterlogged.
• Q: How fast does it grow? A: The Dawn Redwood tree is known for its rapid growth, typically growing 2-4 feet per year under ideal conditions once established.
• Q: Can I grow this in a container? A: While you can start it in a container, the Dawn Redwood tree will quickly outgrow it due to its rapid growth and massive mature size. It is best suited for permanent planting in the ground.