Street Trees Part 6 – Metasequioa, Dawn Redwood and Taxodium, Bald Cypress

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First of all, "Merry Christmas" from downtown Painesville, Ohio.

 

painesville lights

 

This week we look at what some very durable choices for trees but may require a lager area than some of your ‘typical’ street trees. The 2 Genus are both narrowleaf, deciduous trees. They are both adaptive and durable.

Some homeowners may confuse them with evergreens which can make them believe the died in the fall:

 

meta fall

 

https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/1188

 

There are two common deciduous narrow leaf trees that lose their needles in the fall. The Bald Cypress and the Dawn Redwood are two hardy trees, which thrive in Ohio. In the fall, they lose their needles causing some alarm at the possible death of an evergreen. But both, if given enough space can thrive in an urban or street setting.

Taxodium distichum, Bald Cypress is a pyramidal conifer

 

tax Monreal

 

which grows 50-70' tall.

 

Tax indy

 

It has soft, feathery foliage that is light green in the summer

 

Tax foilage

 

but turns yellow to brown in the fall,

 

bald fall

 

and eventually leaves the tree looking bare or bald.

 

tax bare

 

Although it looks like a needled evergreen in summer, it is deciduous. Trunks are flared at the base, and when growing in water, often develop distinctive, knobby root growths, referred to as knees,

 

knees

 

which protrude above the water surface or wet area around the tree.

 

If given adequate room, this tree can be outstanding.

 

tax street

 

Metasequoia glyptostraboides, Dawn Redwood which is a deciduous, coniferous tree that grows in a conical shape to 100’ tall. That being said, it is a durable tree but needs lots of room to grow and no wires overhead. So, street tree in this case actually means 'can grow by a street if given room'. Maybe considered more of a 'park' tree. 

 

Mata tree

 

As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting and deeply fissured bark.

 

meta flare

 

Its fern-like foliage that is soft to the touch.

 

Foliage emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall. 

 

meta fall 1

 

The key to using Dawn Redwood is providing enough space. If the street right of way can accommodate this large tree, it is a good choice.

 

meta street

 

Dawn redwood prefers, moist well-drained soil, unlike the Bald Cypress, which can grow in wet soil to even intermittent standing water. They are related to and closely and resembles bald cypress (Taxodium) and redwood (Sequoia).

Consider using Bald Cypress or Dawn Redwood in your setting as long as you provide enough space.

 

meta space

 

For additional information see:

Bald Cypress:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m510

Dawn Redwood:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a396

As an afterthought, I also thought I'd mention one more narrowleaf, deciduous tree, Larix decidua, European Larch. Although maybe too large to consider a street tree for small places, 

 

larch1

 

it is deciduous and provides interesting texture and interest.

 

larch 2

 

Happy Holiday!!