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This tree is growing in a garden in Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm pretty sure it's evergreen (turns out it's not). I'm not sure whether or not it is indigenous to this area.

Click on pictures for full size.

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UPDATE:

I had the opportunity to visit this tree in Winter for the first time last week. It is not evergreen, after all. Unfortunately, this means that it is not a Redwood (right?).

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Another update: The tree has produced cones this summer!

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Richard C
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5 Answers5

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I believe it is a Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) This tree looks and feels like a sequoia (and even terrestrial examples of bald cypress), but is not evergreen. Foliage turns red/brown before it drops it's leaves.

More info here and here.

[Metasequoia Leaves

That Idiot
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There are two trees that look very similar, on is the dawn redwood and the other is the bald cypress, both trees are deciduous conifers. the main difference is the growth habit is slightly different, here is a video with more info... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIlu0I3Pulw

in short, yours has alternate needles and branches (it looks like to me) and slightly less rounded cones, I think you have a Bald Cypress.

Grady Player
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It looks like a redwood tree to me: right foliage, right bark, right habit.

rivimey
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I'm not familiar enough with South Africa's trees to be firm on it, but it looks like a Yew or Redwood to me.

Paul Nardini
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It looks exactly like the redwoods we have growing here in our area of California.

Gramma Sue
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