Dawn Redwood, a Living Fossil

Dawn Redwoods with fall foliage. Image from John Manion

In regard to plants at Reflection Riding, our primary focus is on the native flora of the Southeast. However, it hasn’t always been that way. Over the last several decades, as the importance of native plants has become so much better understood, many gardens are focusing more on natives. Such is the case with Reflection Riding. Though we now primarily plant natives, we see no compelling reason to remove plants from the past, unless they are in poor health or are considered invasive. 

One of these “residual” specimens has a storied past – in addition to being a beautiful species. I’m referring to a tree whose common name is Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides).

Left: Dawn Redwood with opposite needle arrangement. Right: Bald Cypress with alternate needle arrangement

Photo by Scotty Smith

Dawn Redwood is closely related to Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) – both being in the Cypress family, the Cupressaceae. The two species, at first glance, can resemble each other. They are both deciduous conifers and have similar forms. The male flowers and cones of both species resemble each other, and their fall foliage is the same beautiful copper color. However, when viewed from a distance, Dawn Redwood often has a decidedly pyramidal outline.

One definitive way to differentiate the two is in the way their leaves (needles) are arranged. Bald Cypress has leaves arranged alternately, whereas Dawn Redwood’s needles are arranged directly opposite each other. Think “Metasequoia Met in the Middle.” Another easily discernible difference is that Dawn Redwood doesn’t produce pneumatophores (knees), like Bald Cypress does.

There are two other tree species in the Cupressaceae that are referred to as “redwoods,” those being Sequoiadendron gigantea (Giant Redwood) and Sequoiadendron sempervirens (Coast Redwood). Out of these three, Dawn Redwood is the shortest, with a maximum height of about 165 feet. This tree, when in its preferred habitat (moist-wet soil), can grow 3-5 feet per year. However, it’s also tolerant of dryer areas. 

Dawn Redwoods in summer

What’s perhaps most fascinating about Dawn Redwood is its discovery. Let’s start at the very beginning, or thereabouts. There were several actors in this saga, which began in 1939, when a fossil of this genus was discovered in China by the Japanese botanist Shigeru Miki (1901-1974). This was an exciting find in the world of paleontology, but little did they know what was to come! Two years later, (1941) in Hubei Province, China, To Gang, a Chinese botanist, came upon an unusual tree he’d never seen, standing next to a temple. Locals called the tree “Water Fir.” After some time, many scientists determined that this tree was the living iteration of the original fossils found that had led them to believe this tree was extinct. It is now commonly referred to as “the living fossil.” Its seed was first brought to the United States in 1948, after the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University participated in an expedition to search for more living specimens. At that time, they found about 100 trees in the wild. There are now 5,000-6,000. Its discovery has been hailed as the most significant botanical discovery of the 20th century.

This beautiful tree now grows in public gardens around the world. At present, the longest tree avenue in the world is in Pizhou, China – where they have lined a 37-mile road with one million of these trees.

Come see our “living fossils!” They’re beautiful at all times of the year, and their buttressed and furrowed trunks are a sight to behold. Ours are located on the east side of our upper pond.