Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Family: Taxodiaceae
What it is like
Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can grow in water.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
Ravines and banks of streams in Hupeh and Szechwan. Riparian habitats on valley floors and in moist ravine bottoms, on acidic, montane yellow-earth soils in regions with moderate climate.
E. Asia - China.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
Plants can be grown as a tall hedge. Plants have an extensive root system and so they are used to stabilize river banks and paddy field walls.
Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.
Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
Hedge: Hedge
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Firewood, Pest tolerant, Specimen, Street tree. Succeeds in most soils and situations, even in shallow standing water. It is slow growing in dry soils or shallow chalk but grows rapidly in moist or wet soils. Succeeds in most pH's down to 3.5. Requires a sunny position but likes as much side shelter as possible. A very hardy plant when dormant, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c. The fresh spring growth, however, is subject to damage by late frosts. It grows best in south-eastern England and poorly in Scotland where it suffers from the lack of summer warmth. Growth can be very rapid when young with annual increases of 1 metre common. However, unless the tree is in a sheltered position and a moist soil the growth rate reduces dramatically once it is 6 metres tall. New growth takes place from May to August. This plant was only known from fossil records until it was discovered growing wild in China in 1941. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood, late autumn in a frame. Very easy.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy; Hedge; Pond; Bog Garden;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 5-8
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist, wet, water