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• Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Lightning
• Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Winter Red
• Metasequoia Glyptostroboides North Light
• Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Winter Rose
• Metasequoia Glyptostroboides White Spot

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Lightning

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The 6 week trip was very difficult and the expedition experienced 'bad weather, bad food, and political problems.' Although the Metasequoia trees they saw were in their winter form, i.e., leafless, they returned with plant sample, seeds and seedlings. Their journey and the story of the 'living fossil' produced a great deal of interest and was reported in the national media. Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & Cheng Water Fir, Shui-hsa. A tree up to 115 ft high in the wild with a trunk about 6 1 ⁄ 2 to 9 1 ⁄ 2 ft in diameter at the base. Bark fissured, dark grey in colour, peeling off in old trees. Branches opposite, glabrous, green in the young state, turning brown later and becoming brownish grey in the second.

Primary credit for the discovery of Metasequoia glyptostroboides belongs to Professor Hu and his Chinese colleagues. In the winter of 1941 Professor T. Kan of the Department of Forestry of the National Central University journeyed from Hupeh to Szechuan, and saw on the roadside at Mou-tao-chi in Wan Hsien a large deciduous tree that was called by the natives shui-sa, or water fir.

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Winter Red

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DAWN REDWOOD
Family: Cupressaceae
Pronounced: met-a-see-KWOY-ah glip-toe-stroe-BOY-deez

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Conifers.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A3; 3-10.
USDA zones: 5-10.
Mature size:
Height 50+ feet (20+ m) in 20 years, eventually reaching 100 feet.
Width: 15-22 (5-7 m).
Cone attributes:
Pendulous cones 3/4 to 1 1/2-inches long and about 3/4-inch wide.
Needle attributes:
Needles are 1/2-inch long slightly curved, arranged opposite along the stem.
Growth habit:
Pyramidal.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
Propagation Methods:
Softwood cuttings in summer.
Pests and Diseases:
None in the Pacific Northwest; I have not found any references to the tree having problems here.

Rainy Side Notes

Once thought to be extinct, Dawn redwood was discovered in 1944 in China, soon after million year old fossils from Metasequoias were found in Japan. This tree grew on the North American continent over 15 million years ago. Now, it is once again growing on this continent. Michael Dirr once wrote, 'This tree provides a case history of perhaps how endangered species should be managed. . . propagate and share.'

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Gold Rush' was found as a seedling in Japan and was named 'Golden Ogi', which means the golden mantle. Dutch horticulturalist Peter Zweinburg brought it to Europe and changed the name to 'Gold Rush'. Blood oxygen meter.

The name, Metasequoia, comes from the Greek word meta, meaning changed and refers to sequoia, which it is related to.

This is a fast-growing tree, reaching 15-20 feet in ten years, after 20 or more years it will reach 50 feet. After that, it may reach 100 feet. It has not been in cultivation long enough for it to reach its full potential. In the Pacific Northwest, the gold foliage will not burn in full sun, unlike other gold foliage that has this tendency.

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides North Light

I found myself smitten with its fall coloring one day in the nursery. I went home to try to find room for just one more tree in my garden. I could plant it, but eventually it would outgrow the space I have available. Thankfully, my young friend, a beginning gardener who lives next door, bought one and planted it. So now I can enjoy the view of his tree from my back yard. I wonder, is he trying to show me up by planting a living relic in his backyard?

Metasequoia 'Gold Rush' keeps its coloring well into summer. It then turns orange-brown in fall, when it sheds its needles. In spring, the needles return an almost chartreuse yellow color. The bark is interesting on this deciduous tree, with deep fissures, giving it winter interest. It thrives in many kinds of soil. It is, however, important to give it some irrigation during our long summer drought. If you have room to grow this conifer, it will be a stunning addition to your landscape. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go negotiate myself some visiting rights for a tree next door.

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Winter Rose

Photographed at Savage Plants in Kingston, Washington.

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides White Spot

By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton

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