Dawn Redwood
Thought to be extinct 5 million years ago until a living specimen was discovered in China in 1941.
Dawn Redwood is one of the most enchanting relict plants, offering us the chance to live alongside the dinosaurs. This deciduous conifer has retained its primordial form for millions of years, and when autumn arrives and its delicate, feathery foliage turns golden and copper-hued, the gardener realises they are witnessing something truly remarkable. Unlike most conifers, the Dawn Redwood sheds its needles each year, making it a genuine beauty of the transitional seasons.
This tree is genuinely attractive thanks to its feathery structure and elegant crown form. The branches are arranged oppositely, creating an unparalleled architecture even in its leafless state. In autumn, the spectacle unfolds: from pale yellow through orange to deep reddish-brown. In the garden, Dawn Redwood pairs beautifully with Ginkgo, holly, and cypress—they complement one another through their textures and colour palettes.
Growing Dawn Redwood is simpler than one might imagine. The plant is unpretentious and tolerant of various conditions, requiring only sunlight and adequate soil moisture. It thrives equally well in gardens across western Ukraine and in the south—having become distributed throughout cultivation wherever people have space and the desire to grow something extraordinary.
I would recommend Dawn Redwood to every gardener who dreams of a tree with its own story. 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 look at 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