Dawn redwood is a deciduous conifer tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is native to central and western China, where fossil records show it has existed for at least 50 million years. This tree was first known from a fossil record, not from living extant plants, and its common name refers to its ancient origins in the “dawn” of time. Living specimens were first discovered during a plant expedition into remote China in the 1940s. The specific epithet glyptostroboides means “resembling Glyptostrobus,” because it was first wrongly identified as Glyptostrobus pensilis , Chinese swamp cypress. This tree prefers full sun and moist, deep, well-drained soils that are neutral or slightly acidic. It does well in soils high in organic matter and in clay soils. This tree is tolerant of occasional wet soils but intolerant of early freezes. Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. It transplants easily and is tolerant of pollution and resistant to deer. Dawn redwood is a fast-growing, pyramidal tree that grows up to 100 feet tall and spreads up to 25 feet wide with attractive, feathery foliage. It has spreading branches that droop with age and deeply fissured bark. The foliage turns a brownish copper color in the fall before being shed. This tree needs plenty of room to grow and can be utilized as a specimen tree for large areas such as parks, golf courses, large commercial or governmental grounds, and as a "living fossil." It does well along ponds and in water gardens. Given its tolerance for pollution, it can also be used as a street tree. Quick ID Hints: Deciduous gymnosperms dropping pins. Pins are opposite and resemble small pinnate leaves. Female cones are pendulous and ellipsoidal. Face view of cone scale looks like puckered lips. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant has minimal pest and disease problems. Japanese beetles will, however, eat the foliage. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 62 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are linear, subopposite, crowded on pins, pliable, feathery, fern-like, and soft to the touch. Foliage emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall. Below, leaves are light green in color and have 2 inconspicuous stomatal bands. Leaves are less than an inch long and wide.
Fall color
Brown/Copper
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Flowers not showy; 0.7-1 in. dark brown cones on long stalks
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Confiers so do not produce fruits, they produce cones. Trees are monoecious. Female cones are pendulous, dark brown, ellipsois or "barrel-like", up to an inch long and less than an inch wide, have 14-28 scales, and have an apical surface that is depressed medially. Male cones are globose and 1/2" long.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting. Bark on mature trees is often deeply fissured.
Stem detail
Buds are opposite, in pairs at the base of pins or deciduous branchlets. They are ovoid to ellipsoidal in shape, and less than an inch long.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and western China
Distribution
US
Wildlife value
This tree provides winter cover for birds, small mammals and deer.