Tree · Cupressaceae family
dawn redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
In short a 10-second read
Dawn redwood (tree) grows to 20–35 m tall and 4.5–10 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 4.5–10 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, clay, humus-rich
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove overlong shoots (April–August).
Planting
container plant: March, October–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does dawn redwood tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does dawn redwood need?
At maturity 4.5–10 m wide and 20–35 m tall; recommended spacing 450 cm.
Does dawn redwood survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (13)
- GBIF — Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- NC State Extension
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Van den Berk Nurseries (NL) — katalóg
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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