Dawn Redwood : Life Cycle/Reproduction

Dawn Redwood Fresh Cone

Upupa4me (photographer). (2012). Immature Dawn Redwood Cones

The oldest Dawn in the world has been alive for 265 years and is found in the Xiaohe Commune in China. The fossil record shows that these trees can range anywhere from 100-400 years old. The tree is coniferous, meaning it produces cones to protect its seeds. However, it is one of few conifers to be deciduous and shed its foliage every winter. The Dawn is also monoecious, meaning each tree can contain both male and female reproductive parts. Thus, this tree can survive and reproduce in solidarity in the wild. It can be easily propagated through softwood or hardwood cuttings from branches. The seeds must be stratified in dirt and frozen to mimic winter conditions, if propagated that way.

Dawn Redwood Mature Cones

Flyover Hangover (photographer). (2011). Dawn Redwood Cones