Dawn Redwood Tree Live Plant – Metasequoia glyptostroboides, 1 Quart Pot, 8-12″ Tall

Overview

Introducing the magnificent dawn redwood live plant, scientifically known as Metasequoia glyptostroboides. This ancient and resilient deciduous conifer offers a unique blend of evergreen beauty and seasonal color, making it a captivating addition to any landscape. The metasequoia glyptostroboides tree is renowned for its rapid growth and elegant pyramidal form, providing substantial shade and visual interest. Unlike most conifers, the Dawn Redwood sheds its needles in the fall, revealing an attractive, textured bark before new, soft green foliage emerges in spring. This particular specimen arrives as a healthy plant in a 1 quart pot, typically 8-12 inches tall, ready to establish itself in your garden. Whether you’re looking to create a striking focal point, a privacy screen, or a large shade tree, the Dawn Redwood is an exceptional choice that promises to evolve beautifully through the seasons.

The dawn redwood live plant is a living fossil, having been thought extinct until its rediscovery in the 1940s. Its historical significance combined with its impressive horticultural qualities makes it a truly special tree. It adapts well to various soil conditions and can tolerate both moderate flooding and drought once established, showcasing its remarkable hardiness. This tree thrives in full sun and is suitable for a wide range of climates, particularly USDA Zones 4-8. Its ability to grow quickly and reach impressive heights and widths makes it an excellent option for those seeking a substantial and impactful landscape element.

Key Benefits

The dawn redwood live plant offers numerous advantages for both seasoned gardeners and landscape enthusiasts. Its unique characteristics contribute to a vibrant and evolving garden space. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Stunning Seasonal Foliage: Enjoy beautiful, soft green foliage in spring and summer that transforms into a brilliant golden-bronze in the fall before shedding, providing year-round visual interest.
• Fast Growing Shade Tree: The Dawn Redwood is a fast growing shade tree, quickly reaching mature heights of 40-50 feet and widths of 20-30 feet, making it an excellent choice for rapid landscape development and providing ample shade.
• Adaptable & Resilient: This tree is incredibly adaptable to a variety of soil types (except desert sand) and can withstand moderate flooding and drought conditions once established, showcasing its enduring nature.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Ideal for planting alone as an ornamental tree, in groupings for a dramatic effect, along borders and fence lines, or even as a unique specimen for large patio pots and bonsai cultivation.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the metasequoia glyptostroboides tree requires minimal care, making it a practical choice for busy gardeners. Its natural resilience helps it resist many common pests and diseases.
• Deciduous Conifer: As a deciduous conifer, it offers the unique characteristic of shedding its needles, providing a different aesthetic than typical evergreen conifers while maintaining an elegant form.
• Historical Significance: Owning a Dawn Redwood connects you to a living fossil, adding a unique story and historical depth to your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your dawn redwood live plant is relatively straightforward, especially once it establishes itself. It thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat. For optimal growth, plant your Dawn Redwood in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate some partial shade, full sun promotes the best growth and color development. Ensure the planting site has well-draining soil, although this tree is highly adaptable and can tolerate various soil compositions, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, as long as they are not excessively dry like desert sand. The tree also shows remarkable tolerance to wet conditions and can withstand moderate flooding, making it suitable for areas with occasional standing water.

Watering is crucial during the establishment phase. Water your young metasequoia glyptostroboides tree regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, it becomes quite drought-tolerant, though supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods will benefit its health and growth. Fertilization is generally not heavily required for the Dawn Redwood if planted in fertile soil. However, if your soil is poor, a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring can encourage vigorous growth. The dawn redwood care routine is relatively simple, focusing on proper site selection and initial watering. This fast growing shade tree is quite resilient to pests and diseases, making it a hardy choice for most landscapes. Pruning is usually limited to removing dead or damaged branches to maintain its natural pyramidal shape.

The Dawn Redwood is cold hardy and performs best in USDA Zones 4-8. It can withstand winter temperatures well within this range. While generally robust, ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues in humid environments. The deciduous conifer nature means you’ll see a beautiful transition of foliage color in autumn, a key characteristic that sets it apart. Protecting young trees from strong winds in their first few years can help them establish a strong root system. With proper dawn redwood care, your plant will grow into a magnificent specimen that enhances your garden for decades.

Size & Details

This offering is for one dawn redwood live plant, shipped in a 1 quart pot. The plant typically measures between 8 and 12 inches in height from the top of the soil. This size is ideal for transplanting, allowing the young tree to establish quickly in its new environment. The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is known for its rapid growth rate, making it a popular choice for those desiring a quickly maturing landscape feature. Expect this tree to grow several feet per year under optimal conditions. At maturity, a metasequoia glyptostroboides tree can reach impressive heights of 40-50 feet with a spread of 20-30 feet, forming a stately, conical silhouette.

The plants are shipped in their pots with soil, ensuring minimal shock upon arrival. The vibrant green foliage of this deciduous conifer will develop in spring, offering a lush display throughout the summer, before transitioning to a beautiful golden hue in fall. This fast growing shade tree is a long-lived species, capable of gracing your garden for many generations. Its adaptability to various soil types and tolerance for both wet and dry conditions makes it a robust and reliable choice for a wide range of garden designs and climates within its hardiness zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This dawn redwood live plant is currently 8-12 inches tall in a 1 quart pot. At maturity, a Metasequoia glyptostroboides tree can reach heights of 40-50 feet with a spread of 20-30 feet, growing into a magnificent specimen.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The dawn redwood live plant is an outdoor tree that thrives in full sun. While young plants can be temporarily kept in large pots, it is best suited for planting directly in the ground to achieve its full growth potential.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This fast growing shade tree performs best in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate some partial shade, but optimal growth and fall color are achieved with ample sun exposure.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your dawn redwood live plant will arrive well-packaged in its 1 quart nursery pot with soil. We take great care to ensure the plant is healthy and ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, dawn redwood care is relatively easy once the tree is established. Its adaptability and resilience make it a good choice for beginner gardeners looking for a striking and low-maintenance tree.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your metasequoia glyptostroboides tree is in spring or early fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Dawn Redwood is cold hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 4-8. If you are within these zones, your deciduous conifer should tolerate winter conditions well once established.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: This tree is highly adaptable and can grow in most soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, as long as they are well-draining. It can even tolerate moderate flooding.
• Q: How often should I water it? A: During its first year, water your young dawn redwood live plant regularly to keep the soil consistently moist. Once established, it becomes quite drought-tolerant, but benefit from watering during prolonged dry spells.
• Q: Can it be grown in a pot? A: While it can be grown in a large pot on a patio, especially when young, for an extended period, the metasequoia glyptostroboides tree will eventually need to be planted in the ground to reach its full mature size. It can also be cultivated as a bonsai.