Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Or the Dawn Redwood. I planted this beauty some 25 years ago. It is definitely my favourite tree in the garden, with its lovely conical shape and twisted trunk. The fronds are deciduous, one of the early coniferous trees found in the fossil records. It was only 'discovered' in the twentieth century so the largest ones in cultivation are mere babies of less than 100 years old, although these are quite impressive. There are a couple of beauties at Levens, and a nice one in the park near my house, and of course my infant! I wish it a long and healthy future.