Dawn Redwood
Thought to be extinct 5 million years ago until a living specimen was discovered in China in 1941.
The Dawn Redwood is one of the most enchanting relict plants, offering us the opportunity to live alongside dinosaurs. This deciduous conifer has retained its primordial appearance for millions of years, and when autumn arrives and its delicate, feathery foliage takes on golden and honey tones, the gardener realises they are witnessing something truly exceptional. Unlike most conifers, the Dawn Redwood sheds its needles annually, making it a genuine beauty of the transitional seasons.
This tree appears genuinely beautiful thanks to its feathery structure and elegant crown form. The branches are arranged oppositely, creating a unique architecture even in its leafless state. Autumn is spectacular: ranging from pale yellow through orange to deep reddish-brown. In the garden, the Dawn Redwood pairs beautifully with ginkgo, spruce, and cypress—they complement one another with their textures and colour palettes.
Cultivating the Dawn Redwood is simpler than one might think. The plant is undemanding and tolerant of various conditions, requiring only a sunny location and adequate soil moisture. It thrives equally well in gardens across Western Ukraine and in the south—it is distributed in cultivation almost everywhere people have the space and desire to grow something extraordinary.
I would recommend the Dawn Redwood to every gardener who dreams of a tree with its own history. It is not merely a garden planting—it is a living page from nature's book, proof that even the extinct can return. When you gaze upon this plant, you gaze through a window into the distant past.
Dawn Redwood — planting & location
Deciduous conifer – unique, foliage turns golden yellow in autumn, relict species
How to water Dawn Redwood
Moisture-loving
Fertilizing and pruning: Dawn Redwood
Dead wood only