Metasequoia (dawn redwood)

Metasequoia is regarded as the emblem of the Gardens, with this collection comprising 88 individual plants. One of the first plants in cultivation was grown here, from a seed collected in the wild in the 1940s.

Although the dawn redwood belongs to a monotypic genus, meaning there is only one species, the collection in the Gardens contains many interesting cultivars. ‘Gold Rush’ is a stunning golden leaf form, whereas ‘Shirrmann’s Nordlicht’ has white variegation that looks like snow on the leaves.

As they’re deciduous, these trees are best seen from spring to autumn. A variety called ‘Amber Glow’ has bronzy, vibrant leaves for several months of the year. The bark of the dawn redwood is spectacular and looks very similar to the giant redwoods found in North America.

While these trees are typically large and therefore featured in bigger parks and gardens, smaller spaces can still benefit from this plant. Dwarf forms, like 'Miss Grace', are perfect for more compact gardens.