Dawn Redwood
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Spacing: 20-25'
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Deer Resistant: Yes
- Show more ›
Dawn Redwood is a specimen tree with quite a history. This “living fossil” has been around for 100 million years—when Tyrannosaurus rex ruled the land! Scientist believed this tree had gone the way of T-Rex, but lo and behold, living Dawn Redwood trees were discovered in China in the 1940s. This is a large, fast-growing tree with a pyramidal shape, fascinating gnarled bark, and jade-green foliage that’s as soft as feathers. The kids will enjoy pretending the yard is a prehistoric landscape, while grown-ups will find plenty to love in Dawn Redwood’s beauty, shade, and fast growth rate. Underused and underappreciated, this is one of our favorite trees at Bower & Branch™!
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Spacing: 20-25'
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Deer Resistant: Yes
- Show more ›
The Story
In the early part of the 20th century scientists were perplexed by fossils of mysterious “redwood-like” trees that they found throughout North America and Asia. It wasn’t until 1941 when a Chinese forester discovered a small grove of unusual trees in Central China that the puzzle would be solved. A few years later, specimens of this tree would be sent to Professor Hu Hsen Hsu in Beijing. Professor Hu remembered reading an article about the redwood-like fossils and realize they had found a living specimen of that tree. He began shipping the seeds around the world to preserve the species, and just in time. Shortly after, the Communist Party took over power in China and closed trade with the United States.
The Details
Stately and pyramidal, this large specimen tree is majestic in its own way. Soft green, "fern-like" foliage turns bronzy-pink or golden apricot in the fall. The foliage drops in the winter and reveals its reddish-brown bark that peels away from the trunk in long narrow strips, providing exceptional interest. A Gold Medal Award winner from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for its outstanding performance, hardiness, and eye-appeal.
How to Grow
Anyone can grow this tree, plain and simple. The Dawn Redwood is not very fussy; they like full sun and will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, even slightly wet soil. Dawn Redwoods are free of any major pest problems as well. The one requirement I would like to point out is to give it plenty of room to grow. They can grow up to 100 feet tall! To help your Dawn Redwood along a little bit, you can give it a little “juice.” For the first 3 or 4 years, as it’s getting established, apply a yearly dose of a medium rate fertilizer during fall. Dawn Redwoods are so easy to grow that they don’t even need to be pruned! Just plant it and watch it grow.
More Info
Size Guide
Scale
Size A
Size B
Size C
This graphic shows the approximate size and form of the Tree you are viewing.
Size A Trees:
4-5' tall. Grown in our #7 tree container. This is a fast growing tree that will quickly become your families favorite tree.
Size B Trees:
8-10' tall. A giant grown and shipped in our #15 tree container. Strong single stem with caliper well over 1 1/2". Fully branched to the ground. Bower & Branch growers outperform all others by far.
Size C Trees:
10-12' Tall. Grown in our #25 or #30 tree container. Strong single stem with a caliper over 2". Fully branched to the ground.
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