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Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Hu.&W.C.Cheng.

Common Name Dawn Redwood
Family Taxodiaceae
USDA hardiness 5-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Ravines and banks of streams in Hupeh and Szechwan[11]. Riparian habitats on valley floors and in moist ravine bottoms, on acidic, montane yellow-earth soils in regions with moderate climate[266].
Range E. Asia - China.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Wet Soil Water Plants Full sun
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jean-Pol_GRANDMONT
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37574471@N00

 

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Summary

Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from February to March, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Hedge; Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge  Soil stabilization

Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[29]. Plants have an extensive root system and so they are used to stabilize river banks and paddy field walls[200].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Firewood, Pest tolerant, Specimen, Street tree. Succeeds in most soils and situations[11], even in shallow standing water[81]. It is slow growing in dry soils or shallow chalk but grows rapidly in moist or wet soils[11, 29, 81]. Succeeds in most pH's down to 3.5[200]. Requires a sunny position but likes as much side shelter as possible[200]. A very hardy plant when dormant, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[200]. The fresh spring growth, however, is subject to damage by late frosts[11, 200]. It grows best in south-eastern England and poorly in Scotland where it suffers from the lack of summer warmth[185, 200]. 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[185]. New growth takes place from May to August[185]. This plant was only known from fossil records until it was discovered growing wild in China in 1941. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

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[81].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Hu.&W.C.Cheng.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Nugue   Sun Nov 27 2005

metasequoia metasequoia cultivated varieties

William Smith   Tue Apr 22 2008

This has been moved to the family Cupressaceae based on DNA tests, according to the Wikipedia article about this tree.

Wikipedia page for Metasequoia

   Mar 3 2014 12:00AM

LEAVES ARE EDIBLE: I have a tree growing in my front yard now for at least 8-9 years. One day I noticed my rabbit eating the leaves of the bottom branches. I was surprised, so I tried them myself. They are very mild and quite tasty...almost sweet. I found a comment from another reader that the new/young leaves of Sequoia Sempervirens are edible as well. I have no reason to doubt it. Rabbits know instinctively what they can eat. I would be curious to find their mineral/vitamin content.

   May 3 2017 12:00AM

I purchase two of thes plants about 6 years ago, from China. Today they are over 50 feet tall. I believe that these may be very special; because both trees have produced a single 3 foot diameter trunk that splits into double trees at about 3 feet from the ground. Yesterday I got curious and ate a handfull of the new leaves. They have a very pleasant green salad taste, not bitter and a bit sweet and very tender. I am very interested in cloning these; but have very unsuccessful at finding a set of good instructions. Please respond to [email protected] I am located in south western Pennsylvania, USA.

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