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This pyramidal tree, with spiny evergreen foliage, will grow up to 50 feet tall. Starting in October, the female trees of this US native produce red berry-like fruit that persist into winter, providing an important food source in the late fall and winter to birds and mammals. A nearby male pollinator is necessary for fruit production. American holly grows well in acidic, well-drained soil and will tolerate most light conditions, but prefers full sun and protection from the wind.  Like most fruiting hollies, it is a traditional favorite in winter holiday decorations and displays.

Dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, similar in appearance to bald-cypress, is a living fossil, having existed as long as 50,000,000 years ago. Fossil records show its presence on both the North American and Asian landmasses, and it was thought to be extinct until the early 1940s when a Chinese official found an unidentified cypress-like tree in a remote village in central China. The opposite leaves are deciduous, a rare feature among conifers. They emerge bright green in spring, mature to deep green in summer, and turn a foxy, red-brown in fall. The excellent foliage colors, ornamental bark, and straight trunks have made them popular ornamental plants in gardens.