Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood)

Japanese name: メタセコイア
Scientific name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides

[Overview]
A deciduous coniferous tree up to 30 m tall.
It has a conical crown.
The leaves are pale green and opposite, forming pinnate leaves 15–20 cm long, and each leaf is linear and arranged horizontally in two rows.
They turn reddish brown in autumn and then fall.
There are male and female flowers.
The male flowers hang at the branch tips in spike-like to panicle-like inflorescences.
The female flowers are green and later become cones, which scatter their seeds in autumn.
The seeds are flat and winged.

[History]
It was formerly known only from fossils, but in 1945 a living tree was discovered in the interior of Sichuan, China, which caused a stir.
It came to Japan by way of the United States.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings, though growing from seed is also possible.
It prefers fertile, well-drained ground with ample soil moisture.
It also grows well in wet ground.
It grows fast.
It weakens in dry or poor soil and is somewhat sensitive to sea wind.
It breaks easily in the wind, so it is not suited to places with strong winds.
It sprouts vigorously and tolerates pruning.

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