Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
$49.95
Advanced landscape stock requires custom heavy freight. Due to strict height limits, 200mm+ stock cannot ship to WA/NT.
- Fiery Autumn Colour
- The Ultimate "Living Fossil"
- Advanced 20L to 100L Supply
- Rapid Landscape Growth
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Plant the Greatest Botanical Discovery of the 20th Century
Known in its native China as 水杉 (Shuǐshān, or “Water Fir”), the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was believed to have been extinct for millions of years—until a living stand was miraculously discovered in a remote Chinese valley in the 1940s. Today, it is revered by landscape architects as one of the fastest-growing, most structurally magnificent deciduous conifers in the world. While germinating this species from seed requires years of specialised nursery care, we have bypassed the wait by partnering directly with elite, TAS-certified Victorian growers. We specialise in supplying massive, established specimens—from tall 200mm saplings right up to 100-Litre and ex-ground trees—providing instant, prehistoric architectural scale and breathtaking autumn colour for major landscape projects and grand rural avenues.
At a Glance
Pot Sizes: 200mm / 20L / 300mm / 400mm / 45L / 75L / 100L Bags
Est. Heights: 85–100cm (200mm) | Up to 4m+ (Advanced Bags)
Mature Size: 30m+ tall (Fast-growing once established in the ground)
Growth Habit: Tall, conical, heavily fluted trunk
Style: Deciduous Feature / Avenue Planting / Wet-Soil Specimen
ADVANCED LANDSCAPE SUPPLY NETWORK*
*We do not sell small tubestock of this species. Our 200mm stock arrives highly advanced (85–100cm tall). Bagged specimens from 20L to 100L require custom heavy-freight logistics.
The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a true “living fossil.” It is one of the very few conifers in the world that are deciduous. Throughout spring and summer, it displays lush, soft, bright-green feathery foliage. As autumn approaches, this foliage ignites into brilliant shades of orange, bronze, and foxy-red before dropping to reveal a magnificent, deeply fluted, cinnamon-coloured trunk throughout winter.
Because it is incredibly fast-growing once planted in the landscape, it is the ultimate choice for establishing instant, grand avenues or screening large rural properties. To provide our clients with immediate impact, we source our stock exclusively through our premium Victorian network (including Coolwyns and Conifer Gardens). Whether you are a Tasmanian collector looking to buy a Dawn Redwood via our certified biosecurity pathways, or a commercial landscaper requiring a dozen 100L trees for an architectural water feature, we have the capacity to deliver.
- Spectacular Autumn Display: Unlike most evergreen conifers, the Dawn Redwood drops its needles, but not before putting on a fiery display of amber, bronze, and red autumn colour.
- The "Water Fir" (水杉): True to its Chinese name, it has an incredible tolerance for wet, waterlogged, and heavy clay soils, making it perfect for planting near dams, creeks, or low-lying areas.
- Advanced Instant Scale: We bypass the slow, multi-year seedling stage by supplying highly advanced stock, ranging from 1-metre tall 200mm pots right up to 100L landscape bags.
- A Living Dinosaur: It is the sole living species of the Metasequoia genus, previously known only from Mesozoic era fossils dating back over 65 million years.
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How fast does the Dawn Redwood grow?
Can it survive in wet, poorly draining soils?
Will it lose its leaves in winter?
Can I order the massive 100L trees?
Detailed Description and Specs
The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is an absolute botanical marvel. Prior to the 1940s, scientists believed this genus had been extinct for millions of years, known only through ancient fossil records. The discovery of a living stand of these trees in Hubei Province, China, sparked a global botanical sensation.
It is a deciduous conifer, meaning it behaves like a broadleaf tree by dropping its foliage in winter. Its needles are incredibly soft and feathery, arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The trunk is just as spectacular as the foliage; as the tree matures, the reddish-brown bark begins to peel, and the lower trunk develops dramatic, muscular “flutes” and buttresses.
- Species: Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood / 水杉 Shuǐshān)
- Foliage: Soft, feathery, bright green needles that turn fiery foxy-red in autumn.
- Bark: Reddish-brown, fibrous, developing deep flutes and buttresses with age.
- Growth Rate: Very fast once established in the ground.
- Best For: Grand avenues, wet-soil planting, architectural landscape features, and autumn colour.
Care and Planting Guide
The Dawn Redwood is a robust, fast-growing survivor that asks for very little, provided it has access to moisture.
- Sunlight & Location: Demands full sun for the best growth rates and the most vibrant autumn colour. It grows into a massive, towering tree (30m+), so ensure it is planted well away from building foundations and power lines.
- Soil & Drainage: It thrives in deep, rich, moist soils. Unlike most conifers, it will happily grow in heavy clay and wet, waterlogged areas. It does poorly in dry, sandy, or shallow chalky soils.
- Watering: This is a water-loving tree. Never let the root zone dry out completely, especially during the hot Australian summer. If you aren’t planting it near a natural water source, provide deep, regular irrigation.
- Pruning: Requires virtually no pruning. It naturally maintains a beautiful, uniform conical shape. Ensure the central leader is never damaged.
Shipping and Delivery
Eastern States (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA)
Our advanced 200mm stock is eligible for standard shipping via our secure plant freight network.
Advanced Bagged / Ex-Ground Specimens (20L to 100L+ Bags)
Massive commercial landscaping trees cannot be sent via standard courier. We coordinate specialist heavy agricultural freight for these sizes directly from our Victorian suppliers across the Eastern Seaboard. Please contact us for a custom landscape logistics quote.
Tasmania (TAS) – Direct Certified Supply
We maintain a highly efficient logistics pathway for our Tasmanian buyers. Because we source this species through our TAS-certified Victorian supplier network, your advanced Dawn Redwood can ship directly to the island, bypassing the usual quarantine treatments and delays.
Western Australia & Northern Territory (WA & NT) – NOT ELIGIBLE
⚠️ Size Restrictions Apply: Shipping to WA and NT mandates the use of Express Post, which strictly enforces a 105cm maximum length limit. Because our 200mm Dawn Redwood specimens arrive highly advanced (often 85–100cm tall *before* boxing), and our bagged landscape stock is even larger, this species currently cannot be shipped to WA or NT.
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