Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) seeds

Ancient tree which was thought to be extinct prior to 1941 when a keen-eyed professor of forestry spotted one in a remote village in China. Probably an ancestor of the huge American Sequoias ( 100ft +!), although luckily this tree will only reach about 15m.

Unusually for a conifer, this tree is deciduous and has soft bright-green, slightly blue tinged, feathery foliage which turns yellow, pink and red in autumn. Responds well to pruning and is ideal for Bonsai.

Winner of the Award of Garden Merit.

Hardy Tree
Height: 15m, Spread: 6m
Position: Semi-shade and moist soil

Packet of 30 seeds

 

RHS Award of Garden Merit

This plant/cultivar has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit because it has proved to be reliable in appropriate conditions and a good performing plant. For more information on RHS award of Garden Merit plants visit rhs.org.uk/plants

 

  

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GROWING GUIDE

Sowing Instructions: Sow at any time of the year. Mix equal parts of seed compost, eg. John Innes with vermiculite, perlite or horticultural grit and sow seeds on the surface, then just cover them with a layer of compost, vermiculite or perlite. Seal inside a polythene bag and place in the fridge for 6 weeks. [If sowing a large quantity, mix seeds with the compost/vermiculite and place in a resealable bag in the fridge, then sow into trays or directly outdoors in a nursery bed.] After this, move to a propagator or other warm place and maintain an optimum temperature of 18-21C. Germination should take place within 1-2 months. Note: Germination can be very erratic, so sow thinly and prick out the seedlings as they become large enough to handle disturbing the rest of the compost as little as possible.

An alternative method is to sow in pots as above during late summer to early winter then place in a cold frame and let nature take its course as the seasons change with the seedlings emerging the next spring.

Growing Instructions: Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm pots and grow on in a cold frame or nursery bed for a year or two then plant in their final position in semi shade.