Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a beautiful deciduous conifer and a tree worth growing for its many ornamental features. Thought to be extinct and only known from fossil records dating back 100 million years, until the 1940's when a small number of living specimens were found in the in Sichuan province of China. The Dawn Redwood is a vigorous grower attaining heights up to 30 metres. The soft green feathery foliage turns from a soft light green to a mid green during Summer. In the Autumn, the foliage takes on tawny pink to gold Autumn colour before dropping and covering the ground in a pleasing carpet of leaves. In later years the conical crown turns more rounded. Long pendulous cones and the textured cinnamon-coloured fibrous bark adds further interest.

Site: Average exposure
Soils: Well draining moist soils
Position: Full sun, some shade when young
Season of interest: Year round interest
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Size: 100ft (30m), eventually taller Spread: 20-30ft (6-9m)