Dawn Redwood

Species

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Leaf Type

Specialized foliage (linear, needle-like leaves arranged oppositely on deciduous branchlets)

Family

Cupressaceae (Cypress family)

Shape

Linear, flattened, needle-like leaflets with blunt or rounded tips.

Size

Individual needles are roughly 0.5 to 0.75 inches (1 to 2 cm) long and 1-2 mm wide; deciduous branchlets holding them range from 3 to 8 inches (7 to 20 cm) long.

Margin

Entire (smooth).

Arrangement

Opposite arrangement of both individual linear leaves on the branchlets and the branchlets themselves on the twigs.

Rarity

Uncommon to Rare in the wild (Endangered on the IUCN Red List), but Common in global horticultural cultivation.

Color & Pattern

Bright light-green to lime-green fresh foliage in spring and summer, maturing to deeper green; transitions to a striking copper, bronze, or reddish-brown hue in autumn before shedding.

Venation Pattern

Parallel / Single central vein running down the middle of each tiny needle-like leaf.

Texture & Surface

Soft, feathery, flexible, and smooth (glabrous) to the touch.

Description

The Dawn Redwood is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer that grows into a grand pyramidal tree reaching heights of 70-100+ feet. Known as a 'living fossil', it was believed extinct and known only from fossils until wild groves were discovered in China in the 1940s. It features soft, feathery green needle-like leaves arranged oppositely on deciduous branchlets that drop entirely in the fall. In autumn, the foliage transforms into brilliant russet-orange and copper tones. The trunk develops a heavily fluted base with attractive reddish-brown bark that shreds into thin strips with age.

Key Features

Strict opposite arrangement of needles and branchlets (unlike Bald Cypress, which has alternate arrangement); soft feathery texture; bright green spring color turning coppery-orange in fall; fluted trunk with reddish-orange fissured bark.

Habitat

Moist, well-drained soils, river valleys, stream banks, and floodplain ravines in full sun to partial shade.

Geographic Range

Native to a localized region in South-Central China (Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan provinces). Widely cultivated and planted as a popular ornamental shade tree across temperate regions globally.

Condition Notes

The foliage shown appears very healthy with vibrant, fresh light-green coloration, excellent turgidity, and no visible signs of pest damage, disease, or leaf scorch. Overall health grade: Excellent.

Interesting Facts

Dawn Redwood was originally described from Mesozoic fossil records in 1941, and botanists believed it had been extinct for 65 million years. Remarkably, living trees were discovered just a few years later in 1944 in Lichuan, China, making it one of the most famous living fossil rediscoveries in botanical history.

Medicinal & Uses

Widely used as a majestic fast-growing ornamental tree for large lawns, parks, rain gardens, and public landscapes. Wood is soft and light, suitable for construction and paper pulp in its native area, though conservation protections limit harvesting.

Ecological Role

Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small mammals; stabilizes riverbank soils against erosion; carbon sequestration power due to rapid growth rate.

Similar Species

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), which has alternate leaf arrangement, stiffer leaves, and grows prominent root 'knees' in flooded soils. Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which is an evergreen, has stiffer dark green leaves, and alternate branch arrangement.

Foraging Tips

Look for a tall pyramidal conifer shedding its green branchlets in late autumn. Check leaf arrangement closely: if the needles and minor stems are directly opposite each other, it is a Dawn Redwood; if offset or alternate, it is a Bald Cypress.

Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic. Generally considered safe around humans, dogs, cats, and livestock, with no known significant toxic compounds.

Identified on 7/25/2026