Dawn Redwood

The Dawn Redwood is a living testament to the majesty of nature that brings timeless beauty and grandeur to any landscape. This deciduous conifer, known scientifically as Metasequoia glyptostroboides, is characterized by its feathery, needle-like foliage that emerges light green in spring, transforms to a rich green in summer, and culminates in a breathtaking display of fiery russet hues in the fall. Redwood trees are best planted in the fall, but be sure to place in a suitable location as they grow 2-3 feet taller each year.

A living fossil, the Dawn Redwood was once thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in China in the mid-20th century, and now it graces gardens with an awe-inspiring presence.

With a majestic growth habit, the Dawn Redwood can attain a mature height of 70 to 100 feet. Although it is too big for most private gardens, it can be a wonderful addition in public parks, as a boulevard tree, and on large estates or farms. It does quite well in damp soils, so it can be a good choice for large rain garden locations.

Dawn Redwood Care

The Dawn Redwood thrives across USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8, particularly excelling in areas with cool, humid conditions.

To ensure the best growth, plant your Redwood in a spot where it can bask in full sun for a minimum of 6 hours daily. This sun exposure is key to its optimal development.

Watering and Pruning the Dawn Redwood

Initial Watering: After planting your Dawn Redwood, water it thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. This initial watering should moisten the soil deeply, encouraging the roots to grow and establish.

Regular Watering Schedule: For the first few weeks, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the tree every few days, depending on the weather conditions and soil type. The goal is to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

Pruning: While the Dawn Redwood naturally forms a pyramidal shape and requires little pruning it is still customary to remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches. While the tree is young make the cuts at a 45-degree angle to the trunk or main branch.

If your tree is over 46" inches tall at the time of shipping, we will have to trim it to fit into our boxes.

Customers Outside of the Southeastern United States: Shipping these trees over long distances during the Summer is not recommended, please wait to order during Fall to Early Spring for best results.