Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Nature Hills Nursery

Living Fossil: 50-Million-Year-Old Dawn Redwood Thought Extinct Until 1940s Discovery
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-8
Grows 50-90 ft Tall, 15-25 ft Wide
Stunning Deciduous Conifer With Orange/Yellow Fall Foliage
Excellent Street Tree in Water Gardens

$106⁸⁸

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Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Full sun is essential for the best performance. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct light daily to maintain a dense canopy and ensure the foliage turns its classic copper-bronze color in the fall.
Soil: This tree thrives in moist, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil. If you are dealing with heavy clay, mix in some organic matter at planting time to prevent the soil from becoming a hard brick during dry spells.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, give your tree a deep soaking once or twice a week to ensure the root system anchors properly. While mature Dawn Redwoods are surprisingly drought-tolerant, they prefer consistent moisture and will grow much faster with regular water. If the tree experiences extreme thirst, it may drop its needles early in the season to protect itself from drying out completely.

Pruning Tips

This deciduous conifer naturally grows into a stately, symmetrical pyramid, so you will rarely need to pick up the shears. If you need to remove lower branches for clearance or take out a wayward limb, do it in late winter while the tree is dormant. Pruning during dormancy is like performing surgery while the patient is asleep, as it reduces sap loss and allows the tree to focus all its spring energy on new growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Feed your tree with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring just as the needle buds begin to swell. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers after mid-summer. Applying too much nitrogen late in the year encourages tender new growth that cannot "harden off" or toughen up before the first freeze, which often leads to winter dieback.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Fast-growing, Fall Color/Interest, Wet Soils, Hedge/Screen, Non-invasive, Flowering, Drought resistant, Attracts pollinators
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	50-90 ft
Width	15-25 ft
Watering Needs	High
Preferred Soil	Clay, Peaty
Growth Rate	Fast
Blooms In	Spring
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Species	glyptostroboides
Class	Coniferopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Majestic, Historic, Ornamental Dawn Redwood Tree

50 Million Years Old!
Long Thought Extinct, Discovered Alive in the 1940's
Grows Fast and to a Great Height
Hugely Ornamental with Flaring Basal Trunk
Feathery Foliage Changes Color in Fall and Drops for Winter
Long-Lived
Make a BIG Statement with this Important Tree
Cold Hardiest of the Redwoods
Excellent for Large Landscapes

If you are the kind of person who needs to have the biggest and best, this is your tree!

If you are a history buff with a love of paleobotany, this is your tree!

Weight-lifter, Plant fanatic, Chief Executive Officer, or Tree hugger? Yup, this is your tree!

For an incredibly impressive statement in a large landscape, plant the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). It soars to great heights - quickly! - and brings a wonderful visual strength with it. You will love the look, and so will people for blocks around you.

This is a tree you can see from a far distance. It creates an immediately recognizable landmark. Really, this tree has an incredible sense of style, gravitas, and mystique.

Use it in a commercial setting, on a corporate campus, or in a "blank slate" backyard with plenty of elbow room. Please select a permanent planting site with care and a thought for future generations. After all, the tallest specimen to date has grown a whopping 200 feet tall!

Situate this tree carefully. These trees grow fast and in time get quite large and for that reason should be planted where they have plenty of room to grow.

We just know you'll fall in love with this tree. After all, this is an important plant with an amazing story.

Beautiful "Living Fossil" Tree

Large in stature, the Dawn Redwood was found throughout the global fossil record from 50 million years ago. It grew in many places, including the United States. However, for thousands of years, people thought it was extinct. It wasn't until China opened up to botanical exploration in the 1940s that it was rediscovered.

Explorers found a small population growing in the wild. They lived in a 13-square-mile forest in central China's Hubei province. Upon this miraculous chance discovery, the precious seeds were distributed throughout the world.

Since that time, it's been planted and enjoyed as a marvelous ornamental tree all around the world. Dawn Redwood has become a popular landscape plant, park tree, and forest reclamation plant.

People are taken by the beauty of the Redwood and its ancient history. It's also an ornamental tree with a lot of desirable attributes.

Its pristine pyramidal shape (strongly conical when young) makes it quite attractive. Its branches grow horizontally, and they begin at the trunk, right next to the ground, so this tree always looks established, even when just a few years old.

Delicate Dawn Redwood leaves transform over the course of the year. They're spritely green in spring and deepen to a rich and handsome green in summer.

As fall arrives, these dainty leaves change color from orange to red bronze. The best fall color is attained when the tree is grown in full sun and receives plenty of water.

Unlike its close evergreen relatives, the California Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens and Sequoia giganteum), Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer. Like the Larch (Larix) and Bald Cypress (Taxodium), Dawn Redwood loses its needle-like leaves in the wintertime. This trait makes it the cold hardiest of all the Redwoods.

The feathery, fern-like leaves are a perfect contrast to the big, muscular, and flared trunk. As the tree matures, the trunk grows to an enormous caliber or circumference. The rough-textured, exfoliating bark adds winter interest.

You'll enjoy its lovely nature and how much character it will add to your landscape. Order one from us today!

How to Use Dawn Redwood in the Landscape

Imagine, in just ten short years... Filtered light radiates through the canopy and provides a cool ecosystem when these trees are grown in a grove. As one of the fastest-growing trees, you can enjoy the shade this lovely Redwood has to offer within just a few years.

If you want to walk beneath this beautiful behemoth, you can always trim its bottom branches back to the main trunk.

They make a great statement anywhere you might want summer shade and winter heat when the leaves drop.

This tree works great when used in a Rain Garden, where it can tolerate the occasional wet feet.

The Dawn Redwood also is tolerant of the urban air and traffic pollution found in inner city gardens.

Dawn Redwood trees are deciduous conifers. These fast-growing trees have light green, fern-like foliage and grow into large trees.

Feathery leaves contrast delightfully with the strength of the highly textured, deeply flaring at the wide base of the trunk.

The tree has an architectural quality, from the buttressed roots of the flared trunk to the lovely, intricate small cone held on stalks. Use this tree as a delightful focal point in a Meditation Garden. Create a comfy spot to commune with it with ground cushions or exterior seating.

Outspread branches tilt upright to give an alert appearance. It is a symmetrical tree, that becomes a signal of strength and peace. The contrasting play between the ferny foliage and the wide, stolid trunk captures the imagination beautifully.

You'll never, ever grow tired of this tree.

For a long, continuous hedge, plant the trees 10 - 15 feet apart on center. Measure from the trunk of the first to the trunk of the next.

To create a grove of specimen trees that stand alone as individual trees, widen that planting width to 20 feet apart on center.

#ProPlantTips for Care

As with other Redwoods, the tree's trunk becomes deeply fissured and quite attractive when limbed up and exposed to allow pedestrian traffic underneath.

Dawn Redwood likes a regular schedule of even moisture. The trees really benefit from a 3 to 4-inch layer of mulch out 3 feet beyond the canopy. This is particularly important in drier climates.

Plant it in full sun with well-drained soil for best results. It will grow especially fast on moist sites.

Primarily suited to Zones 4-8, the Dawn Redwood will grow in USDA planting zone 9 if it is located on the east-facing slopes of the coastal mountain range.

Each fall, you can rake the needles from this deciduous conifer. Use as a beneficial mulch for Azaleas, Blueberries, and Japanese Maples. Any acid-loving plant will appreciate the gift.

This long-lived, fast-growing tree is an international treasure. Do your part to preserve this tree's legacy by planting one in your yard or commercial property.

Order yours today from NatureHills.com and start growing your family's legacy tree!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dawn Redwood fit in a typical residential yard, or does it need a lot of space?

Dawn Redwood needs significant space and isn't suitable for typical residential yards. These fast-growing trees can reach 200 feet tall and develop wide, flaring trunks. Choose a permanent location with plenty of room for decades of growth.

Can Dawn Redwood tolerate wet, poorly-drained, or clay soils?

Dawn Redwood thrives in moist to wet soils and handles clay conditions better than most trees. Its natural habitat includes flood-prone areas, making it ideal for challenging drainage situations. Plant in consistently moist locations for best results, available at naturehills.com.

How much sun does Dawn Redwood require?

Dawn Redwood thrives in full sun to partial shade, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth. This fast-growing tree performs best in full sun conditions, which promotes its impressive height potential and healthy foliage development. Plant in an open location away from structures that might create shade as it matures.

Does Dawn Redwood need pruning, and when should it be done?

Dawn Redwood rarely needs pruning due to its naturally excellent form and strong central leader. Remove only dead, damaged, or crossing branches. If pruning is necessary, do it in late winter while the tree is dormant to avoid stress and promote healthy spring growth.

Is Dawn Redwood deer-resistant or tolerant of urban pollution?

Dawn Redwood has good deer resistance due to its aromatic foliage, and it tolerates urban pollution reasonably well. This makes it suitable for corporate campuses and commercial settings where air quality may be compromised. For large landscapes needing a pollution-tolerant statement tree, shop Dawn Redwood at naturehills.com.

How fast does Dawn Redwood grow, and how long until it reaches full size?

Dawn Redwood grows exceptionally fast, gaining 2-3 feet per year in ideal conditions. It can reach 70-100 feet in 25-30 years, with some specimens eventually growing up to 200 feet tall. Plant it where it has plenty of room to spread, as this living fossil will quickly outgrow small spaces.

When is the best time to plant Dawn Redwood, spring or fall?

Dawn Redwood can be planted in both spring and fall, with spring typically preferred for better root establishment. These fast-growing trees adapt well to either season as long as they're given adequate water during establishment. Choose your planting time based on your climate and watering schedule.

Will my Dawn Redwood order ship in winter, or only in certain seasons?

Dawn Redwoods ship during the dormant season, typically late fall through early spring when the tree naturally drops its foliage. This timing allows for optimal root establishment before the growing season. Plant immediately upon arrival or heel in temporarily if ground isn't frozen.

Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides