Why Plant Dawn Redwood?
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 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!
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.
How to use Dawn Redwood in the landscape?
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.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
How To Plant Dawn Redwood
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 we would like to point out is to give it plenty of room to grow. They can grow up to 100 feet tall!
How To Prune
Dawn Redwoods are so easy to grow that they don’t even need to be pruned! Just plant it and watch it grow.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
