A Living Fossil in Ohio: Inside The Dawes Arboretum’s Mission to Preserve Dawn Redwoods for Future Generations
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Dawn redwoods at Dawes Arboretum. Photo courtesy Dawes Arboretum.
For millions of years, the dawn redwood existed only as a fossil. Scientists believed the species had disappeared alongside ancient ecosystems long before humans ever walked the Earth.
Unfortunately for us, the story of the dawn redwood seemed to be little more than a myth, preserved only in stone and the fossil record. Then, in the 1940s, something remarkable happened. In a remote valley in central China, Chinese botanists discovered living dawn redwoods growing where no one expected them to be.
A tree once believed extinct had quietly started to grow again.
Photo by Dendroica Cerulea, CC BY 2.0.
Fortunately, today in the US, visitors to The Dawes Arboretum can walk among descendants of that extraordinary rediscovery. But the Arboretum is doing more than simply growing these ancient trees; it is helping to ensure that one of the world’s most remarkable species continues to thrive for generations to come.
A Tree Thought Lost to Time
The dawn redwood (metasequoia glyptostroboides) has earned a nickname few living organisms can claim: a living fossil. Paleobotanists knew the species from fossilized leaves, cones and trunks dating back more than 100 million years. The tree once grew across much of the Northern Hemisphere, flourishing alongside prehistoric forests before gradually disappearing as climates shifted over millions of years.
Dawn Redwoods at Dawes Arboretum. Photo courtesy Dawes Arboretum.
During a worldwide warming period known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), as well as the subsequent Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), the tree was forced to seek refuge in the Arctic, which at the time was a tropical environment, as the only region of the world suitable for its survival. This period in the tree’s evolution is likely where it developed its characteristic deciduous nature, as the Arctic regions are bathed in darkness for almost half the year.
Because no living examples had been documented, scientists had decided that the species was extinct. That assumption lasted until the early 1940s, when Chinese foresters encountered an unfamiliar deciduous conifer in Hubei Province. Further study revealed an astonishing truth: the fossils and the living tree belonged to the same genus.
A tree that had been considered lost to history was still alive. The discovery became one of the most significant botanical finds of the twentieth century.
Photo by kirknelson, CC BY 2.0.
More Than a Rare Tree
Today, dawn redwoods grow in botanical gardens and arboreta around the world, but few collections rival the one found at Dawes.
The Arboretum’s Dawn Redwood Collection has been nationally accredited by the American Public Garden Association since 2009. It includes over 450 specimens representing documented wild-origin trees, cultivated varieties and valuable genetic diversity that supports long-term conservation.
While visitors may simply see a beautiful grove of towering trees, each specimen represents years of research, documentation and stewardship. The collection’s intention was to preserve genetic diversity rather than simply increase the number of trees. Many of the specimens originated from different wild populations in China, creating one of the largest collections of dawn redwood genetics anywhere in the world outside the species’ native range.
Healthy populations depend on genetic diversity. By preserving a broad range of genetics, the Arboretum helps strengthen the species’ long-term resilience while creating opportunities for future research and conservation.
Photo by Dmitri, CC BY 2.0.
Conservation That Continues to Grow
Conservation is often viewed as protecting what already exists. But at Dawes, it also means protecting what comes next.
The Dawn Redwood Collection continues to expand as documented wild-source material becomes available. Each accession is carefully recorded, evaluated and incorporated into a collection designed not only for today’s visitors but also for future scientists, horticulturists and conservationists.
Maintaining the collection also requires continual stewardship. Recent restoration work near the dawn redwood grove reflects the Arboretum’s commitment to protecting these important specimens. Removing invasive plants and carefully managing surrounding habitats ensures the collection remains healthy while supporting future conservation efforts.
Like the trees themselves, conservation is never truly finished. It grows through consistent care, thoughtful planning, and decisions made with future generations in mind.
Photo by Albategnius, CC BY 2.0.
Walking Through Ancient History
There is something quietly remarkable about standing beneath a dawn redwood.
Unlike many evergreens, these trees are deciduous conifers. Their soft, feathery foliage emerges bright green each spring, then transforms into warm copper tones each autumn before falling in winter. Their appearance changes with the seasons, reminding visitors that even ancient species continue to evolve through cycles of growth and renewal.
Few visitors realize they are looking at a species whose ancestors once shaded prehistoric landscapes.
The trees overhead are not replicas or reconstructions, but living descendants of a lineage once believed to have vanished forever. That perspective changes the experience of walking through the grove from admiring its beautiful landscape to connecting with Earth’s distant past and remembering how much can still be learned from the natural world.
Photo by Pai Shih, CC BY 2.0.
Preserving Possibility
The story of the dawn redwood could have ended millions of years ago. Instead, it became one of conservation’s greatest success stories.
At the Arboretum, that story continues to unfold beyond planting trees. It encompasses preserving biodiversity, protecting genetic resources, advancing scientific knowledge and inspiring future generations to value the living world around them.
Nearly a century after Beman and Bertie Dawes founded the Arboretum, that mission feels as relevant as ever. Every tree planted today carries the possibility of shaping tomorrow. Among the towering dawn redwoods, visitors are reminded that some of the world’s oldest stories are still growing.
