Dawn Redwood | The Wood Database (Softwood)

Rot Resistance: Rated as moderately durable to very durable regarding decay resistance. Lumber from old-growth trees tends to be more durable than that from younger second-growth trees.

Workability: Typically easy to work with hand tools or machinery, but planer tearout can occur on figured pieces with curly, wavy, or irregular grain. Glues and finishes well.

Odor: Redwood has a distinct odor when being worked, though unlike cedar, this odor subsides after being worked.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although there have been no adverse health effects directly associated with dawn redwood, the closely related coast redwood has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Originally presumed to be extinct, dawn redwood is generally only available on a very limited basis—primarily from felled or storm damaged ornamental trees.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as endangered due a severely fragmented extent of occurrence, as well as an overall decline in natural habitat and number of mature trees. Technically, all mature native trees have been declared protected, but the underlying habitat protection has been assessed as “inadequate.”^[1]Farjon, A. 2013. Metasequoia glyptostroboides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T32317A2814244. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32317A2814244.en. Accessed on 07 … Continue reading A 2011 investigation showed that this habitat decline came as a result of human activity.^[2]Tang, C. Q., Yang, Y., Ohsawa, M., Momohara, A., Hara, M., Cheng, S., & Fan, S. (2011). Population structure of relict Metasequoia glyptostroboides and its habitat fragmentation and degradation … Continue reading

Common Uses: Some suggested uses include using the wood for production of hardboard or chipboard, as well as non-structural applications where good dimensional stability is needed.^[3]Kozakiewicz, P., & Monder, S. (2016). Physical and mechanical properties and anatomy of metasequoia wood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng). Annals of Warsaw University of Life … Continue reading

Comments: Originally described from fossils, dawn redwood was only known as a long-extinct species. However, a series of discoveries in the 1940s in rural China led to the realization that present-day living trees “not far from extinction” matched those in the fossil record.^[4]Merrill, E.D. 1948. Metasequoia, another ‘living fossil’. Arnoldia 8(1). Shortly thereafter, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University funded an expedition which resulted in the collection and exporting of viable seeds, eventually resulting in the species being planted not only in arboretums, but also becoming an established ornamental species worldwide. While the number of wild specimens continues to slowly decline, dawn redwood is now widely cultivated in temperate regions worldwide—indeed, the city of Pizhou, China features a 29-mile (46 km) long avenue lined with approximately one million dawn redwoods.^[5]Browell, M. (2013). The creation of the longest tree avenue in the world. Arboricultural journal, 35(1), 50-54.

Dawn redwood lumber tends to be very soft, and commensurately weak. A 2016 analysis of dawn redwood concluded, “In its solid form, this wood has too low density and is not suitable for the production of structural elements, floor materials and joinery.”^[6]Kozakiewicz, P., & Monder, S. (2016). Physical and mechanical properties and anatomy of metasequoia wood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng). Annals of Warsaw University of Life … Continue reading

Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood. The first sample pictured shows a slower-grown sample, while the remaining two show faster-grown trees with very widely spaced growth rings.

Watch video of wood finish being applied.

Identification: See the article on Softwood Anatomy for definitions of endgrain features.

Dawn redwood, slower growth (endgrain 10x)

Dawn redwood, faster growth (endgrain 10x)

Dawn redwood, slower growth (endgrain 1x)

Dawn redwood, faster growth (endgrain 1x)

Resin canals : absent

Tracheid diameter : large to very large

Earlywood to latewood transition : moderately abrupt

Grain contrast : medium

Parenchyma : diffuse

Lookalikes/Substitutes: With its very lightweight yet dark reddish brown heartwood (especially after a finish has been applied), there aren’t very many woods that can be confused with redwood. The most likely candidate for confusion is western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Generally, cedar is lighter in color than redwood, and has a distinct lingering scent.

Notes: None.

> Softwoods > Cupressaceae > Metasequoia > Related Species

There are a total of five species of Metasequoia found in the fossil record, though M. glyptostroboides is the sole surviving species today, leading scientists to view dawn redwood as a “living fossil.”^[7]Ma, J. (2003). The chronology of the” living fossil” Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): a review (1943-2003). Harvard Papers in Botany, 9-18.

Additionally, the Cupressaceae family contains a subfamily, Sequoioideae, which contains a total of three extant species—each from three different genera.

Redwood, dawn
(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

Redwood, coast
(Sequoia sempervirens)

Sequoia, giant
(Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Related Content:

**Restricted and Endangered Wood Species** From CITES appendices to IUCN status, what you need to know about today’s wood situation.

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**Worldwide Woods, Ranked by Hardness** Over 500 woods arranged into eight geographic regions and ranked by Janka hardness—all on one 24″ x 36″ poster.

**WOOD! Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide** All that makes The Wood Database unique, distilled into one potent book.

References[+]

References
↑1	Farjon, A. 2013. Metasequoia glyptostroboides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T32317A2814244. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32317A2814244.en. Accessed on 07 June 2024.
↑2	Tang, C. Q., Yang, Y., Ohsawa, M., Momohara, A., Hara, M., Cheng, S., & Fan, S. (2011). Population structure of relict Metasequoia glyptostroboides and its habitat fragmentation and degradation in south-central China. Biological Conservation, 144(1), 279-289.
↑3, ↑6	Kozakiewicz, P., & Monder, S. (2016). Physical and mechanical properties and anatomy of metasequoia wood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng). Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Forestry and Wood Technology, (95), 114-119.
↑4	Merrill, E.D. 1948. Metasequoia, another ‘living fossil’. Arnoldia 8(1).
↑5	Browell, M. (2013). The creation of the longest tree avenue in the world. Arboricultural journal, 35(1), 50-54.
↑7	Ma, J. (2003). The chronology of the” living fossil” Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): a review (1943-2003). Harvard Papers in Botany, 9-18.