Metasequoia glyptostroboides, commonly known as dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer in the Cupressaceae family, native to a limited region in central China and renowned as a “living fossil” because it was known only from fossils until living specimens were discovered in the 1940s. This majestic tree can reach heights of 30–45 meters in cultivation and even taller in its native habitat, with a conical, pyramidal shape and a straight, robust trunk. The leaves are opposite, linear, bright green in summer, and turn a striking reddish-brown or golden bronze in the fall before dropping, giving the tree spectacular seasonal color. Metasequoia glyptostroboides produces small, globular seed cones and tiny pollen cones on the same tree, being monoecious, and the seeds are wind-dispersed, allowing natural regeneration in suitable habitats. The species thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils, though it can tolerate occasional flooding, making it suitable for riparian plantings and wetland restoration projects. Conservation efforts have been significant, as wild populations are restricted and fragmented, but the species is now widely cultivated worldwide as both a heritage and ornamental tree, appreciated for its rapid growth, resilience, and unique evolutionary history that links the present to the ancient past.