Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Overview
The Dawn Redwood is one of the most remarkable trees in the world. Once known only from fossil records and believed to be extinct, it was rediscovered in central China in the 1940s. The species is often referred to as a “living fossil” because it represents a lineage that existed millions of years ago.
Like Bald Cypress, Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer, shedding its soft needles each autumn before producing fresh growth in spring. Its rapid growth, feathery foliage, and towering stature have made it a popular specimen tree in arboretums, parks, and campus landscapes around the world.
Identification
Leaves
- Opposite leaf arrangement
- Soft, flat, needle-like leaves
- Bright green during spring and summer
- Coppery orange to reddish-brown fall color
- Shed each autumn
Bark
- Reddish-brown bark
- Fibrous texture
- Develops deep vertical furrows with age
- Often peels in narrow strips
Flowers
- Produces inconspicuous reproductive structures in spring
- Separate male and female cones occur on the same tree
Fruit
- Small, round woody cones
- Typically ¾ to 1 inch in diameter
- Mature in autumn and release winged seeds
Size
- Typically grows 70 to 100 feet tall
- May exceed 120 feet under favorable conditions
- Forms a strongly pyramidal crown when young
Native Range
Dawn Redwood is native to a small region of central China, where remnant natural populations survive in mountainous valleys and river systems. Following its rediscovery in the twentieth century, the species was distributed to arboretums and botanical gardens worldwide.
Within the Marshall University Arboretum, Dawn Redwood is classified as a Non-Native species.
Ecology and Wildlife Value
Although not native to North America, Dawn Redwood provides many ecological benefits common to large trees. Its canopy offers shade, nesting opportunities, and cover for wildlife, while its root system helps stabilize soil and manage stormwater runoff.
Because it grows rapidly and can attain great size, Dawn Redwood also contributes significantly to carbon storage and urban forest health.
Human Uses and Cultural Significance
The rediscovery of Dawn Redwood is considered one of the most significant botanical events of the twentieth century. Seeds collected from the newly discovered population were distributed worldwide, helping preserve the species and introducing it to arboretums, parks, and university campuses.
Today, Dawn Redwood is widely planted as an ornamental tree because of its:
- Rapid growth
- Distinctive feathery foliage
- Attractive fall color
- Unique evolutionary history
- Tolerance of a variety of soil conditions
Its scientific importance and dramatic appearance have made it one of the most celebrated trees in modern horticulture.
Dawn Redwood at Marshall University
Dawn Redwoods add a unique dimension to the Marshall University Arboretum by representing a species with an extraordinary conservation story. Their seasonal needle drop, rapid growth, and distinctive form make them unlike most other trees in the collection.
Related Arboretum Highlight
One of Marshall University’s Freedom Trees is a Dawn Redwood planted during Homecoming 1972 as a living memorial to prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Learn About the Freedom Trees
Quick Facts
Common Name: Dawn Redwood
Scientific Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Family: Cupressaceae
Native Region: Non-Native
Mature Height: 70-100 feet (occasionally 120+ feet)
Mature Spread: 25-40 feet
Growth Rate: Fast
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil Preferences: Moist, well-drained soils; adaptable to a variety of conditions
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Bloom Period: Spring
Fruit/Seed: Small woody cones that release winged seeds
Wildlife Value: Provides shade, cover, nesting habitat, and environmental benefits associated with large canopy trees
Notable Characteristics: Deciduous conifer, “living fossil,” rapid growth, and distinctive feathery foliage