The Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a truly remarkable tree with a fascinating history that reads like a botanical thriller. Once thought to be extinct and known only through fossil records, this living fossil was dramatically rediscovered in 1944 in a remote area of central China, sending shockwaves through the scientific community. Since its rediscovery, the Dawn Redwood has been widely propagated and planted throughout the world, yet it still carries the endangered status by the IUCN due to its limited wild population.
This deciduous conifer is noted for its rapid growth, potentially reaching heights of 25-40 meters in cultivation, making it an impressive and stately addition to any landscape. It features a distinctive pyramidal shape with a straight trunk and horizontal branches that sweep gracefully upward at the tips. The feathery, lime-green foliage is arranged in opposite pairs along the branches, turning a beautiful russet-brown in autumn before falling, revealing attractive fissured bark. In spring, fresh green foliage emerges, creating a soft, delicate appearance that belies the tree’s ancient lineage.
Despite its prehistoric origins, the Dawn Redwood has proven remarkably adaptable to modern conditions, thriving in various soil types and tolerating both wet and dry conditions once established. Its unique history, attractive appearance, and rapid growth rate make it a prized specimen for gardens, parks, and arboretums across the UK, offering gardeners the rare opportunity to cultivate a living piece of Earth’s ancient history.
The Dawn Redwood stands not only as a beautiful ornamental tree but also as a powerful symbol of resilience and the ongoing wonders of botanical discovery.
Plant your Dawn Redwood in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. It prefers slightly acidic conditions but is adaptable. Water regularly during the first few growing seasons to establish a deep root system. Once established, it’s relatively drought-tolerant but appreciates consistent moisture. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches, as the tree naturally maintains its pyramidal shape. This fast-growing tree is generally pest and disease-resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice for UK gardens.
Approx 80/100 tall in a 5 litre pot
🇬🇧 UK grown
Season of Interest
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Sunlight
Full Shade, Full Sun, Partial Shade, Partial Sun
Pot Size
5 Litre
Foliage
Deciduous
Foliage Colour
Green
Hardiness
-15°C to -10°C (H5)
When MatureSafety
Child Safe, Pet Safe
Watering
Moderate
Preferred Soil Type
Any well drained soil
Preferred Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
This item is only available for collection from our nursery in Euxton, Lancashire.
Delivery
Yarrow Gardens aim to have your order with you in fastest time possible and safest method of transport. Dependent on the parcel size and geographical destination in mind with will select the most suitable courier.
You are welcome to collect any times from our nursery in Euxton, Lancashire. Please contact us to arrange a suitable date and time.
With regret, we can no longer send items out to Northern Ireland. All live plants need a phytosanitary checks and DAERA must be notified. This process is simply too expensive at the moment.
Returns
In the rare instance that your item has been damaged during delivery or incorrectly shipped by us, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the return and replacement of your item.
Once you have contacted us and we have confirmation that your parcel is on its way back to us we will be happy to issue a refund for the return postage.
Delivery Class | Delivery Cost | |
---|---|---|
Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £0.95 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Tracked | £3.25 (Flat) | |
Royal Mail Large Letter - Royal Mail Second Class | £2.10 (Flat) | |
Standard Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £7.95 (Flat) | |
Standard Items - Standard Courier (Evri) | £4.49 (Flat) | |
Medium Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £7.95 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Standard Courier (Parcelforce) | £28.95 (Flat) | |
Large Items - Standard Courier (Parcel Force) | £24.95 (Flat) | |
Pallet Courier - Pallet Courier | £90.00 (Flat) |
We are a small family business based in Euxton, West Lancashire. We specialise in the supply of trees, shrubs both bare root & cell grown. Much of our stock is grown directly on site from seed or cuttings. Other stock is all UK sourced where possible.
We adhere to industry leading biosecurity measures, this ensures that our nursery remains clean and disease free.
We are DEFRA registered and our nursery is regularly inspected to confirm compliance with all current plant and plant health regulations.
Our Plant Passport Registration Number is GB140010
You can view our Plant Healthy report here.
We are actively working towards the Grown in Britain certification along with the Plant Healthy certification.
Should you have any concern or question in respect of our plant health matters, please get in touch.