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Golden-leaf dawn redwood is a new and superior colored-leaf tree species

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Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is the only surviving species of the genus Metasequoia in the family Cupressaceae. This species was once thought to be extinct, until it was discovered in 1941 in the Lichuan area of Hubei, China, and afterwards this plant was also found successively in the Wanxian area of Sichuan. In 1947, dawn redwood seeds were introduced to the Arnold Arboretum in the United States, and from there spread to botanical gardens around the world. In 1948, "dawn redwood" and its scientific name were formally named, and since then it has enjoyed great fame in China and even the whole

Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is the only surviving species of the genus Metasequoia in the family Cupressaceae. This species was once thought to be extinct, until it was discovered in 1941 in the Lichuan area of Hubei, China, and afterwards this plant was also found successively in the Wanxian area of Sichuan. In 1947, dawn redwood seeds were introduced to the Arnold Arboretum in the United States, and from there spread to botanical gardens around the world. In 1948, "dawn redwood" and its scientific name were formally named, and since then it has enjoyed great fame in China and even the whole world.

Golden-leaf dawn redwood (M. glyptostroboides 'GoldRush') is a cultivar of dawn redwood developed in recent years. Deciduous tree, fast-growing, very vigorous, bark reddish-brown; leaves flat, linear, arranged in 2 opposite rows on short shoots; the new leaves show golden yellow in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn of the year.

Golden-leaf dawn redwood is mostly introduced from Japan, has relatively strict requirements for microclimate, has relatively high requirements for air humidity, and likes humid climates. At present, it has been introduced in Beijing, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang and other places, and trials show that it performs poorly when introduced in some areas of Beijing; while the golden-leaf dawn redwood introduced in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang has strong adaptability, grows fast, has a straight trunk, a beautiful tree shape, and stable leaf color, and a three-year-old seedling can reach more than 3 m in height. It is mostly propagated by cuttings, which can be done in all four seasons, with a relatively high survival rate.

Golden-leaf dawn redwood is relatively tolerant of water and moisture, and is an excellent landscaping tree species for plain lake areas, while as a colored-leaf tree species it has broad development prospects in East China.

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