The Redwood Family (Taxodiaceae) 
15 Species—plus 21 Varieties (40 extinct species) —for a variety of climates 

Almost everyone is surprised to learn that 
there are 15 species plus 21 varieties in the 
9 genera of Taxodiaceae, the Redwood branch 
of the Pine family. These 36 different “Red- 
woods” vary from dwarf shrubs to giant 
trees, growing in various climates, in many 
parts of the world. In foliage and general 
appearance, most of them resemble either 
Sequoia gigantea or Sequoia sempervirens. 
Although botanists differ, here is the best 
list of “Redwoods” we have been able to 
compile to date: 
1. SEQUOIA—Redwood. 2 species plus 6 vari- 
eties, evergreen. ; 
S. sempervirens—Coast Redwood, Califor- 
nt Gp en re, 
x (S. gigantea — Giant Sequoia, California, 
if handled right—if not, to zero or above. 
* 3 var.—aureum, glaucum, pendulum. 
2. METASEQUOIA—Dawn Redwood. 1 species, 
deciduous, recently found alive in China. 
M. glyptostroboides—-hardy in Mass., S. 
Alaska. hee a? he 
3. TAXODIUM—Bald Cypress. 3 species plus 6 
varieties, not a true cypress. 
T. distichum—Southern Bald Cypress, S.E. 
states, deciduous, hardy to New England 
when protected. 5 varieties: 
—pyramidatum — narrow, slender with 
* short ascending branches. 
—fastigiatum — slender, upright, virgate 
branches. 
—nanum—dwarf, shrubby, short branches. 
—nutans—branches spreading, nodding at 
tips. 
—microphyllum — shrub, short spreading 
branches. 
T. ascendens—Pond Cypress, southern U. S. 
—one variety, pendulum, a ’’weeper’’. 
T. mucronatum—Mexican Cypress. Mexico, 
evergreen, largest diameter tree. Not hardy. 
4. GLYPTOSTROBUS—Chinese Swamp Redwood. 
1 or 2 species, evergreen. 
G. heterophyllus—China, shrub to 10 feet, 
not hardy. (Some botanists class as Taxod- 
ium.) Also called G. pensilis. 
5. CRYPTOMERIA — Japanese Cedar. 1 species 
plus 7 varieties, evergreen. 
C. japonica—Japan, China, evergreen tree 
to 125 ft., not a true cedar, hardy even in 
New England when sheltered. 7 varieties: 
~—elegans—low dense tree, leaves bright 
green turning to bronzy red in autumn 
—araucaroides — pyramidal, short thick 
leaves. 
—compacta—large compact shrub, bluish- 
green foliage. 
—pyramidalis — narrow, compact bluish- 
green all year. 
—Lobbii—-compact, bright green foliage. 
—nana—dwarf, procumbent, dense. 
—spiralis—slender shrub, falcate leaves 
spiraled around branchlets. 
6. CUNNINGHAMIA — Cunninghamia. 2 species, 
evergreen, hardy to. 15 above zero. 
C. lanceolata or sinensis—China Fir—bushy 
tree to 80 ft. tall. 
C. Konishii — Formosan Cunninghamia, 
smaller leaves—grown also in S. W. China. 
(Some botanists class as Taiwania.) 
7. ARTHROTAXIS — Arthrotaxis. Tasmania, 3 
species, everareen, ly very hardy. 
A. selaginoides—mountain tree to 45 feet. 
A. cupressoides—up to 40 ft. tall. ~ 
A. laxifolia—up to 30 feet. 
(Some botanists class as Cunninghamia.) 
8. SCIADOPITYS — Umbrella Pine. 1 species, 2 
varieties, hardy to Maine, if protected. 
S. verticellata — evergreen, requires moist 
soil all year, to 100 ft. 2 varieties: 
—dwarf. 
—variegated foliage. . 
9. TAIWANIA—Taiwania. 1 species. 
T. cryptomerioides—tall evergreen, Formosa 
& S. W. China—scale-like leaves—not hardy. 
If you have not room enough for a giant 
Redwood, or live in an unsuitable climate, 
perhaps you can grow one of the dwarfs or 
one of the more hardy varieties. The Rare 
Plant Club is attempting to build up a com- 
plete collection of all 36 “Redwoods,” which 
we believe has never been done. Wherever 
you are, if you want to grow one Redwood 
or a grove of many varieties, let us know 
your climate and location problem. We may 
be able to help you. 
RARE PLANT CLUB 
A small group of us, native to the Midwest, 
now live in California. We have been de- 
lighted with the hundreds—yes, thousands 
of plants, trees and flowers, native and im- 
ported from all over the world, that thrive 
in this mild climate. We were surprised to 
discover that a number of these plants we 
never saw before would grow in other parts 
of the U.S., with proper care. So we wanted 
to share them with our friends and former 
neighbors back home. What began as a 
hobby soon swamped us with demands—the 
Rare Plant Club resulted. 
Now anyone in the U.S. can get their name 
on our mailing list. From time to time, we 
mail information (like this folder on Sequoias) 
about rare plants they can perhaps grow. We 
try to tell all we can about the climate, soil, 
planting and care each plant requires, so 
YOU can decide whether YOU would like to 
try to grow such a plant, indoors or outdoors. 
No obligation, no dues, no expense—unless 
you decide you want one or more of the plants 
we describe. Then you may order and we 
ship you the plant of your choice with direc- 
tions for growing. We reserve the right to 
stop accepting names for our mailing list, any 
time it gets too big for us to afford the mailing 
expense. Then too, if we don’t hear anything 
from you in a year or so, we drop your name 
from the list, assuming you are no longer 
interested—to make room for someone who is. 
If YOU would like to get on our mailing 
list, just drop us a postcard or letter saying— 
“Put me on your mailing list.” That’s all there 
is to it—but BE SURE to spell your name and 
address clearly. 
We will appreciate your cooperation in 
helping the Rare Plant Club increase jts serv- 
ice to the thousands of folks who have been 
hoping for rare plants like these to become 
available. 
