Redwood, Dawn

The Dawn Redwood, scientifically known as Metasequoia glyptostroboides, is a majestic tree closely related to the Bald Cypress and Sequoia Redwood. This large deciduous conifer often reaches heights of 70 to 100 feet and features feathery, fern-like foliage that transitions from light green in the spring to dark green in the summer, and finally to a russet brown in the fall. Here at Hayes Arboretum, the Dawn Redwood stands out for its rapid growth rate, capable of growing up to 4 feet per year. The tree's bark is brownish-gray and vertically striped, becoming deeply fluted with buttressed roots as it matures. Once thought to be extinct and known only through fossil records, the Dawn Redwood was rediscovered in China in the 1940s and subsequently introduced to the United States. The Dawn Redwood is a testament to nature's resilience and adds significant historical and aesthetic value to any landscape with its impressive size, striking seasonal foliage changes, and unique bark characteristics.