Metasequoia glyptostroboides, otherwise known as the Dawn Redwood, is a fast-growing, endangered and coniferous tree - the sole living relic species of the genus Metasequoia, one of three species in the subfamily Sequoioideae. It is native to Lichuan County in the Hubei province of China. Other common names dawn redwood. Synonyms Metasequoia honshuenensis. Family Cupressaceae. Genus Metasequoia is a large deciduous tree with reddish-brown fibrous bark and soft, pale green linear leaves arranged in two ranks on the shoots, colouring beautifully in autumn.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides This deciduous, monoecious, coniferous tree grows to 100 feet tall. Its oddly shaped, branch-pitted trunk is often deeply fluted and “buttressed” and has orange-brown bark. Crystals, Rocks & Minerals for Sale. We have a wide variety of crystals, rocks and mineral specimens for sale for sale ranging from common everyday quartz and pyrite to those rare specimens of wulfininte, ruby and emerald.
Bonsai trees are often thought of for their tall, imposing presence on the California coast. However, there are also reasons to consider growing redwood bonsai plants.
There are several kinds of redwood plants you can grow for bonsai. Among these are the dawn redwood and the coast redwood, both of which have very soft, needle-shaped foliage and interesting roots that make them suitable for bonsai.
Interesting Facts about Redwood Bonsai
Types of Redwood Bonsai Trees
There are two primary types of redwood that you can use for bonsai – dawn redwood, or Metasequoia glyptostroboides or coast redwood, or Sequoia sempervirens. Although there are plenty of other kinds of bonsai trees for you to choose from, like the giant sequoia, these are rarely used for bonsai.
Both coast redwood and dawn redwood are beautiful bonsai specimens. Dawn redwood bonsai is native to China and is deciduous while coast redwood is evergreen and native to the coastal portion of California and Oregon. It is perhaps the coast redwood (California redwood) which is most famous, as it is the tallest tree in the world.
Both are tall, strong trees that are known for their gorgeous foliage, upright trunks, and reddish-brown bark.
Growing Redwood Bonsai from Seed or by Propagation
You can propagate both kinds of redwood bonsai by seed or from cuttings. You can also air layer this plant.
How to Care for Redwood Bonsai
Sunlight
Redwood bonsai trees, regardless of the species, should always be planted in full sunlight. However, if you plan on growing your bonsai in a climate where the summers get extremely hot, you may need to provide it with a bit of shade during these hot periods. Either way, make sure your plant stays protected from the frost, as it does not tolerate a freeze well.
Watering
Water your redwood liberally during the summer months, keeping the soil consistently moist. At the same time, you need to be careful about overwatering these plants, as it can lead to root rot.
Fertilizing
Fertilize your bonsai in the spring with a high-nitrogen fertilizer – do not attempt this at any other time of the year as it can burn the roots. You can fertilize in the summer, but you need to do so very sparingly to limit uncontrolled growth.
Potting and Repotting
You will need to repot your redwood once every two years. The roots grow quickly and rapidly and will fill up all of the available space in the container, lifting the root ball out of the pot. You may need to prune the roots every time you repot your plant, too.
Pruning Redwood Bonsai
Redwoods naturally grow in a straight, upright form, so you shouldn’t have to do a ton of training or pruning to get it to grow this way in a bonsai setting. You may find that your bonsai produces lots of new buds, but these don’t need to be removed when pruning. Similarly, you can choose to wire the branches but they can be somewhat brittle. As a result, many bonsai growers use guy wires to lower the height of the branches instead.
Pests and Diseases
Redwood is very rarely affected by diseases and pests, particularly when grown indoors. You may want to watch out for root rot, a condition that can be caused or worsened by overwatering.
Metasequoia Plants
Where to Buy Redwood Bonsai
You can purchase redwood tree saplings just about anywhere (or their seeds) but it’s best to purchase trees or their seeds that are specifically meant for bonsai growing. Check your favorite bonsai outlet or distributor to see what they have in stock – either type of redwood species should suit you quite nicely.
General Information | |
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Symbol: | MEGL8 |
Group: | Gymnosperm |
Family: | Cupressaceae |
Duration: | Perennial |
Growth Habit: | Tree |
Native Status: | L48 I |
Characteristics | |
Data Source and Documentation |
Native | Introduced | Both | Absent/Unreported |
Native, No County Data | Introduced, No County Data | Both, No County Data |
Native Status: | |||||||||
L48 | AK | HI | PR | VI | NAV | CAN | GL | SPM | NA |
Metasequoia Plantation
Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Acta Plantarum
Provided by USDA Forest Service. Scaleform video encoder for mac. Usage Requirements.
©Richard A. Howard. Provided by Smithsonian Institution, Richard A. Howard Photograph Collection. Usage Requirements.
slideshow Click on a scientific name below to expand it in the PLANTS Classification Report.Rank | Scientific Name and Common Name |
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Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
Division | Coniferophyta – Conifers |
Class | Pinopsida |
Order | Pinales |
Family | Cupressaceae – Cypress family |
Genus | Metasequoia Miki ex Hu & W.C. Cheng – dawn redwood |
Species | Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & W.C. Cheng – dawn redwood |
More Accounts and Images | |
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ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (MEGL8) | |
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (MEGL8) | |
Kemper Center for Home Gardening (MEGL8) |
Food
Source | Large Mammals | Small Mammals | Water Birds | Terrestrial Birds |
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Cover
Source | Large Mammals | Small Mammals | Water Birds | Terrestrial Birds |
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Description of Values
Metasequoia Plantation
Value Class | Food | Cover |
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