Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn Redwood
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Metasequoia genus in the family Taxodiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Taxodiaceae
- Genus
- Metasequoia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 15 m
- Spread
- 4 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[5]. Plants have an extensive root system and so they are used to stabilize river banks and paddy field walls[3].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Ravines and banks of streams in Hupeh and Szechwan[1]. Riparian habitats on valley floors and in moist ravine bottoms, on acidic, montane yellow-earth soils in regions with moderate climate[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[6].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils and situations[1], even in shallow standing water[6]. It is slow growing in dry soils or shallow chalk but grows rapidly in moist or wet soils[1][5][6]. Succeeds in most pH's down to 3.5[3]. Requires a sunny position but likes as much side shelter as possible[3]. A very hardy plant when dormant, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[3]. The fresh spring growth, however, is subject to damage by late frosts[1][3]. It grows best in south-eastern England and poorly in Scotland where it suffers from the lack of summer warmth[2][3]. 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[2]. New growth takes place from May to August[2]. This plant was only known from fossil records until it was discovered growing wild in China in 1941.
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X