Metasequoia glyptostroboides

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Plant
ID 223 Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Botanic Name Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Common Name Dawn Redwood, Water Fir, Water Larch
Family Name Cupressaceae
Cultivars syn. Metasequoia honshuensis, Metasequoia neopangaea, Sequoia glyptostroboides, 'Miss Grace'
Origin China, 1941, Zone 5-10
Growth Type Tree
Bark Type Furrowed
Foliage Type Deciduous Water Use High
No. of Species 1
Growth Habit Conical / Pyramidal Growth Rate Medium
Height 40 - 60 m (133 - 200 ft) Spread 10 m (33 ft)
Plant Overview
This deciduous conifer has a buttress base with a straight trunk. The red bark turns grey-black and comes away in stringy strips. The graceful spreading branches forming a conical habit with small bright green linear leaves that turns yellow-brown in autumn.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Linear
There are 20 to 30 pairs of soft textured linear leaves arranged on one plane. The mid vein on the upper surface is slightly grooved and the underside has faint glaucous lines of stomata. During autumn they turn yellows-red.
Arrangement Opposite
Margin Entire
Colour Bright green
Size 10 - 15 mm ( 0.4 - 0.6 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Strobilus
The male flowers are very small and arranged in a raceme or panicle that is up to 300 mm (1 ft) long and not commonly seen and the female flowers are produced when the leaves first emerge and appear solitary during early spring.
Inflorescence Catkin
Colour
Size 50 - 60 mm ( 2.0 - 2.4 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Cone Additional Information
Colour Dark brown
The 45 mm (1 ¾ in) long stalked pendulous cones are round to ovoid with up to 28 scales. Each scale produces up to 8 winged seeds. The seeds are viable but the plant may be reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 20 - 45 mm ( 0.8 - 1.8 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained sandy-clay or loamy, deep rich, ample moisture, pH 5.0-7.5
Container Not normally, bonsai specimen
Climate Cold - cool temperate
Aspect Full sun to semi shade, open position, frost and snow tolerant, drought tender
Pest & Diseases Spotted mite, rust, canker, normally will not kill the tree
Fertiliser Complete fertiliser during establishment and keep moist during summer
Pruning Removing competing leaders to form a tree and maintain lower branches for shape
Cultural Uses Propagation
Dawn Redwood is grown for its foliage and its conical habit. It is planted in parks and large gardens as a specimen tree or used as a focal point in a formal garden. It is also planted along borders as a summer screen and establishes in 4 to 7 years.
Sow fresh seed when available in a well drained media and keep moist.
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