Metasequoia glyptostroboides update, and future plans.

Back in April I wrote about germinating some Metasequoia, or Dawn Redwood, seeds. In all, five seedlings germinated. The tallest of these grew to about ten inches, while the smallest two are around six inches. I had planned on posting an update back in August, but actually working in the garden took precedence. But I did take a photo before moving the potted seedlings to a sheltered location outdoors.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides seedlings, August 2014.
Photo by Bill Jury.

As you can see from the photo above, even the smallest of the five seedlings was doing well. The pot in the upper right actually has two seedlings that I have yet to separate, but there's still room in the pot (I'll separate them in the spring). These spent the remaining days of August, September, and most of October - basically until our first hard freeze - in a lightly shaded location outside. In late October, on the evening of our first serious freeze, I pulled the seedlings into our insulated garage. A cold frame would be better, but the garage window works for the time being. At this time the largest seedling has dropped much of its foliage, the next two largest are somewhere in between, while the smallest two are still holding on to their needles. Otherwise, all five of the seedlings show healthy, dormant buds ready for the warmth of next spring.

Metasequoia on the San Jose University Campus.
Photo by John Pozniak.

The future? As I wrote back in April, this is a big tree, but I am working on preparing a spot for one toward the back of the garden. If all goes as planned (a big "if" when gardening in Colorado), I might eventually have the tallest tree in Milliken!