Dawn Redwood ‘Miss Grace’ 60/80cm (5L)

Dawn Redwood ‘Miss Grace’ – Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a named selection of one of the most remarkable trees in cultivation. It is a deciduous conifer that sheds its foliage each autumn, a trait it shares with only a handful of other conifers. This plant is supplied at 60/80cm tall in a 5L pot, a manageable size for planting out or growing on.

The dawn redwood was known only from fossil records until living trees were found in China in the 1940s. Since then it has become a popular choice for gardens, valued for its soft, feathery foliage and its strong seasonal changes. In spring the new needles emerge a fresh, bright green. They darken slightly through summer, then turn warm shades of russet, copper and orange-brown in autumn before falling. Once the leaves have dropped, the fibrous, reddish-brown bark and the tree’s framework give interest through the winter months.

‘Miss Grace’ brings these features in a cultivated form, making it a good talking point for collectors of unusual conifers and for anyone wanting a tree that changes through the year. The species tolerates damp and heavy soils well, so it is a useful option near ponds, streams or in lower-lying parts of a garden where many conifers would struggle. It can also be used as a specimen in a lawn or as a focal point in a mixed border. Because it is deciduous, it lets more winter light reach the ground than an evergreen conifer would.

At 60/80cm in a 5L pot, this young tree is easy to handle and quick to establish. Planting at this size lets the roots settle into your soil from an early stage, which generally leads to steady, healthy growth.

Care Guide

Position: Plant in full sun or light shade. Full sun gives the strongest autumn colour and the most vigorous growth. The tree is fully hardy in the British climate and copes well with cold winters and frost.

Soil: Dawn redwoods grow well in most moist but well-drained soils and also tolerate wetter, heavier ground, including clay. They prefer neutral to acidic conditions but will adapt to slightly alkaline soils. Avoid very dry, shallow or sandy sites unless you can water regularly.

Planting: Dig a hole twice the width of the 5L pot and the same depth as the root ball. Loosen the roots gently, set the tree at the same level it sat in the pot, backfill with the excavated soil mixed with some organic matter, and firm in well. Water thoroughly after planting.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist during the first two growing seasons, especially in dry spells during spring and summer. This tree dislikes drying out, so a mulch of bark or compost around the base helps keep moisture in.

Feeding: Apply a general-purpose, slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Established trees in reasonable soil need little extra fertilising.

Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed. Remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter while the tree is dormant. Do not be alarmed when the needles turn brown and drop in autumn, as this is natural.

Containers: It can be grown in a large container for a few years, but it is best planted in the ground for long-term health.

Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
4–8 metres

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.