This Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a fantastic specimen plant (individual plants that stand out in the landscape). It acts as a focal point and its unique shape helps it stand out. Typically Dawn Redwoods have a pyramidal shape but this one had its central leader (main trunk) likely damaged in a storm. Still it remains a worthy specimen. Dawn Redwoods grow in zones 5-8, prefer full sun, and moist soil that is strongly acidic (4.5 to 5.5 pH).
The Dawn Redwood has a lineage that dates back to the late cretaceous period (66 million years ago+), and just looking at it gives you a sense of what the landscape must have looked like back then. In the late fall, this deciduous tree loses its leaves, but its mystical shape really stands out.
