Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Shelter & nesting
Offers nesting cover for birds; it has little direct food value for wildlife and is resistant to deer.
Ships bare root
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
tree
Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–8
- Grows 70–100 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 2 reviewsThe quick answer
Dawn redwood is a fast-growing deciduous conifer for USDA zones 4-8 that reaches 70-100 ft tall but only 15-25 ft wide in full sun. Buy it for a tall, narrow living-fossil tree with feathery needles that turn russet in fall. It likes moist soil and has few pest problems.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Dawn Redwood plant profile
Mature size70–100 ft tall · 15–25 ft wide
Typical (70 ft)Up to 100 ft
Narrow, pyramidal form with a straight, buttressed trunk.
USDA hardiness zones4–8
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Plant in full sun.
SoilpH 5.0–7.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist to wet, well-drained soil; water during dry spells because it is not drought-tolerant.
Russet to orange-brown before the needles drop fall colorWindbreak
Flowers & fruit
Flowers are inconspicuous; small round cones about an inch long form on the same tree.
Leaves & fall color
Russet to orange-brown before the needles drop in fall. Soft, flat, feathery needles are bright green in summer and turn russet orange-brown before dropping in fall.
Pests & disease
No serious pests or diseases; Japanese beetles may feed on foliage and canker diseases occasionally occur.
Pruning
Little pruning is needed; remove dead or damaged branches in late winter and keep a single leader.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Dawn Redwood
SPRINGBright green, feathery needles emerge
SUMMERNarrow, pyramidal green spire; grows quickly with steady moisture
LATE SUMMERSmall round cones form
FALLNeedles turn russet orange-brown, then drop for winter
Questions people ask about Dawn Redwood
Is my dawn redwood dead? It lost all its needles.
Probably not. Dawn redwood is deciduous and drops its needles every fall, then leafs out again in spring.
How fast does dawn redwood grow?
It is a rapid grower in full sun with moist soil, making it one of the fastest conifers for northern yards.
Will dawn redwood grow in wet soil?
Yes. It comes from wet sites in China and does well in moist to wet, well-drained soil, but it does not like drought.
How much room does a dawn redwood need?
Plan for 70-100 ft of height but only about 15-25 ft of width, so it fits narrower spaces than most big trees.
What arrives when I order a dawn redwood?
A dormant bare-root tree, 2-3 ft tall, without needles. Plant it promptly and keep the roots moist.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 2 reviews
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E
The specimen I received was very well packaged, arrived very fast and it a beautiful specimen! I have just ordered two more trees! Strong root system was intact and I have potted it until I am able to plant it.
A
Delivered.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension.