Metasequoia glyptostroboides Silhouette

Dawn Redwood ‘Silhouette’ is a distinctive deciduous conifer valued for its narrow, upright form and variegated foliage. Its soft, feathery needles feature contrasting cream and green coloration, providing visual interest throughout the growing season. In autumn, the foliage develops bronze tones before dropping, revealing the tree’s reddish-brown bark and architectural branching. Like the species, this cultivar is fast-growing under favorable conditions and is best suited to moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Its slender habit makes it a useful specimen for gardens and landscapes where vertical interest is desired without the broad spread of the typical Dawn Redwood. The species is native to China and is notable for its rediscovery as a living tree in the 1940s after being known from the fossil record.

Botanical name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Silhouette’
Common name: Silhouette Dawn Redwood
Family: Cupressaceae
Hardiness: Confirm the cultivar’s specific USDA hardiness range with the supplying nursery before planting.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Foliage: Deciduous, cream-and-green variegated
Growth habit: Narrow, upright
Growth rate: Cultivar-specific growth rate may vary with growing conditions.