Dawn Redwood (metasequoia glyptostroboides) is an ancient native brought back to modern New England landscapes, a living fossil that once grew here 50,000 years ago and now offers a striking, fast-growing focal point for any property. Its soft, feathery foliage, warm cinnamon bark, and luminous orange-bronze fall color create a dynamic, seasonally changing presence that feels both timeless and contemporary. While it is not a major host for specialist insects the way oaks or willows are, its dense branching and deciduous needles provide shelter and perching sites for birds, and its moist-root tolerance makes it valuable in rain gardens and low spots where it helps manage water and contributes structure to otherwise underused habitat areas.