As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting. Seedlings grown therefrom were planted in front of the Lehmann Building at MBG in 1952 where they have now developed into large mature trees (70’+ tall). Seeds collected from the original site were made available to the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1947.
However, it was not until 1941 that it was first discovered growing in the wild near the town of Modaoqi, China by Chinese forester, T. From fossil records, dawn redwood is known to have existed as many as 50,000,000 years ago. It is related to and closely resembles bald cypress ( Taxodium) and redwood ( Sequoia).
Metasequoia glyptostroboides, commonly called dawn redwood, is a deciduous, coniferous tree that grows in a conical shape to 100’ tall.
