dawn redwood??

[canadianplant]

Anyone have any experience with dawn redwood??

[Paul Ont]

Of course... They are 100% hardy here in Toronto. They are fairly common actually. A really cool tree.

The only damage I've seen was on a second year tree near Kingston. It had some serious stem die-back after the winter we hit -32C with little snow. I can't say how hardy I think they are since I've not grown one myself. Based on this limited information I'm going to guess that an established tree could take -30 to -35 celsius without dying back too much.

The USDA rates it to zone 4... Which would mean hardiness in the -40C (and f) range. It doesn't get cold enough here to test that.

[canadianplant]

In a word, sexy.....

Ive always been interested in fossils and paleo climatology. This thing fits right in. If i had the room id grow a ginko too. Theres some horsetails that grow here, not the big ones though. A magnolia would be nice. Would represent and old branch of angiosperms. So would a palm ( if the ever germinate). Im goign to get some rhododendron this year as well, they are quite old.

SPeaking of rhodies, how hard are they do propagate from cuttings?

[Paul Ont]

Rhodo cuttings- Not the easiest. I would recommend you try holly cuttings first, and, if successful, then move on to more difficult cuttings like Rhodos. The first time I did Rhodo cuttings I had 0% luck. This time I've taken them too early and have about 50% success, with a propagation chamber... However, these cuttings were taken a little early. Apparently those taken now, or even earlier, are the easiest to root.

They take a long time and have a tendency to look good for weeks only to rot in a very short period of time. Very frustrating.

[canadianplant]

Cuttings dont do the best for me. then again, ive only really done one at a time, and not rhodies. I do have 2 aerogarden, which is supposed to grow cuttings quite well. I dont knwo anyone that grows holly here, ive never even seen it for sale. This area is hurtin for decent plants.

How is the growth down there for the dawn redwood? Ive heard it can grow 6 feet in a year in good conditions. And the only thing i can find out about "ideal conditions", is full sun.