The illustrated growing guide
Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Family Cupressaceae
Est. zones 4-8
A living-fossil conifer — known only from fossils until living trees turned up in 1940s China — and a magnificent fast-growing deciduous conifer: feathery spring-green needles, russet-copper fall color, then a shapely pyramidal silhouette with fluted cinnamon bark all winter. It loves moist soil and grows 2-3 feet a year into a grand specimen. A conversation piece with real presence where there's room.
Full Sun
Moderate water
Very Fast growthI
Overview
Will dawn redwood suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what dawn redwood actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-8Dawn Redwood at a glance
Common dawn redwood problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow dawn redwood: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate dawn redwood
III
The year
What dawn redwood asks for, month by month.
The dawn redwood year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The dawn redwood year as text
- Jan pruning
- Feb pruning
- Mar bloom
- Apr bloom
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec pruning
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Dawn Redwood in the garden system
- Canopy layer tree
What dawn redwood is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of dawn redwood, ruled as a catalogue.
Best dawn redwood varieties & cultivars
Species; 'Ogon'/'Gold Rush' (golden foliage); 'Miss Grace' (weeping)
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to dawn redwoodyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Dawn Redwood questions, answered straight.
Is dawn redwood safe for kids and pets?
Dawn Redwood is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate dawn redwood?
Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering.
IX
Elsewhere
Where dawn redwood sits in the library.
River Birch
Southern Magnolia
Ginkgo
Colorado Blue Spruce