The first goal in this study was obtaining an adequate sample size for my research. Examining data from multiple institutions allowed for analysis of data from different regions within the United States. I have recorded 331 Metasequoias from 44 different institutions. All Metasequoias recorded were planted before 1975. This data was obtained primarily through e-mail. The research process included sending out approximately a total of 1,500 emails to individuals over a period of several months.

The following data was collected: quantity of trees per site, height, diameter at breast height (DBH), planting date, and seed source. Note that DBH measurements depend on the height of the measurer and may vary. With this data I have created many maps, charts, and graphs that "Rate" Metasequoias in my research. Here are the ratings used throughout my webpage:

1) Single Tree Rating --- Each individual tree is rated with a "Rating" formula. This formula takes into account height, diameter at breast height, and planting date. It is used to rate the Top Trees.

2) Garden Rating --- This rating is simply the average of all of the "Single Tree Ratings" for one garden. It is used in the "Average Ratings Map", which is on the next page.

3) Tree Graphs --- These graphs are visually pleasing charts with fairly general ratings. The way they rate trees is less complex and unrelated to the "Single Tree Rating".

Average Ratings

The map below shows the sites recorded and the average rating of trees recorded per site. This rating is a number determined by factoring together height, DBH, age, and quantity trees per site. Larger trees and trees that grow more quickly are rewarded with a higher rating. Sites with more trees are rewarded as well. Sites with more impressive trees have larger ratings and tree icons, while sites with less impressive trees have smaller ratings and tree icons.

View a high resolution PDF image of the above file by clicking here.

With a large sample size, it is possible to determine the best climates that Metasequoias grow in. It is important to realize that growth habits are a combination of many factors, including temperature, wind speed, precipitation and soils. A thorough analysis of this data, including the creation and study of many maps, charts, and graphs, was conducted before making any conclusions.

This map shows the oldest Metasequoia trees in the United States with larger tree icons and younger trees with smaller tree icons. All data was recorded in 2006, and accordingly all age calculations are based off of that year. The data shows that trees did not reach the interior of the country until substantially later in time. For example, most trees in Georgia, Tennessee, Vermont and Utah are younger than trees in North Carolina, New Jersey, and California. There are notable exceptions, such as the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

View a high resolution PDF image of the above file by clicking here.

More often than not well known gardens and universities are within high population centers in the Northeast and West. Ivy League University gardens like the Morris Arboretum, Princeton University, and the Arnold Arboretum received seeds quickly. The University of Vermont, Callaway Gardens, and the University of Tennessee at Martin received seeds at later dates.

This map records the results from the ratio produced by dividing height and DBH for each site. For example, sites that have taller trees with smaller DBHs have less breadth and smaller tree icons. These are tall, skinny trees. Trees with larger bases that are not very tall have greater breadth and large tree icons. This map produced noteworthy results. Trees in Southern regions clearly are taller with smaller DBHs. They do not have the traditional flared, buttressed base that many Metasequoias in the United States have.

View a high resolution PDF image of the above file by clicking here.

The main evidence for this is the trees in Georgia, North Carolina, and Los Angeles. These sites have the least breadth of any sites in the country. Meanwhile, sites in Washington and Massachusetts have trees with a great deal of breadth. Possibly because of high temperatures or other climactic variables, these trees do not have large, buttressed bases that trees in more Northern climates have. They most certainly still grow tall, but not wide at the base.

Examining tree growth involved conducting a careful analysis of climactic variables. This involved studying ecosystems, temperature, wind speeds, precipitation, soil moisture, and soil types. Coming into the study it was obvious that Metasequoias were a hardy genus, simply based on their paleobotanical history alone. Knowing the relationship Metasequoias have with Sequoias and Cypresses, my early hypothesis was that Metasequoias would likely love moisture and precipitation, dislike wind, and prefer temperate ecosystems.

Metasequoias grow well in Eastern Broadleaf forests, both oceanic (bright green), and continental (dull green). The Oceanic region consists of the Northeastern seaboard and the western foothills of the Appalachians. Metasequoias also grow very well in the continental portion, in Kentucky. Additionally, Metasequoias grow well in the Pacific Northwest Lowland Mixed Forest area (dark green). Metasequoias also grow in the Southern Mixed Forest region (dull pink), parts of the Intermountain Semiarid region (brown), and the California Coastal Chaparral Forest Shrub region (yellow).

Noteworthy areas where Metasequoias do not grow are in the Prairie Parkland region (dull yellow), Cascade Mixed Forest region (dark grey), and the Southeast Outer Coastal Plain (brown). So it is clear that Metasequoias typically do not grow well in Semiarid regions, Deserts, Mountains, or Plains. Strangely, Metasequoias grow in the Semiarid region of Utah, likely due to a combination of favorable local conditions and groundskeeping, along with well kept soils, fair moisture, and lack of winds.

The map below describes the average annual low temperature throughout the United States. My research indicates that Metasequoias grow best in temperature Zone 6, which includes New Jersey, Ohio, and Kentucky. Metasequoias generally do not grow in areas that have extremely low and high temperatures. This includes Florida (Zones 8, 9, and 10), and Minnesota (Zones 3 and 4).

However, Metasequoias grow near San Francisco and Los Angeles (Zone 10), and Vermont (Zone 4). In fact Metasequoias grow just as well in Los Angeles as they do in many areas of the country, and they grow better in Vermont than in the Chicago region. It is presumed that Metas grow in L.A. and Vermont because of appropriate amounts of moisture and wind, and the right types of soil.

The map below describes the amount of energy obtained through wind throughout the United States. The windiest areas are in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Appalachian Mountains. This supports my earlier hypothesis that Metasequoias do not grow well in areas with high winds. At first glance, the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina looks like it is within a very high wind area in the mountains. However, it is in a small pocket valley featuring low winds. None of the 45 institutions are located within areas of high winds.

The Metasequoias at the North Carolina Arboretum probably grow well because it is a fairly warm area. When high winds combine with cold temperatures, like in Vermont or Chicago, Metasequoias grow poorly. This is exemplified by the Chicago – Milwaukee metropolitan area. High winds created by Lake Michigan combined with cold temperatures in Zones 4 and 5 produce poor growing conditions for Metasequoias. Additionally, this map helps explain why Metasequoias do not grow in the Great Plains. These are areas with some of the highest winds in the country, and clearly Metasequoias are not tolerant of high winds.

My research indicates that Metasequoias do not grow well in extremely dry or wet areas. They prefer semi-dry areas to semi-wet areas. They grow the best in areas with average precipitation, like New Jersey and Ohio. However, there are exceptions. Metasequoias do grow in Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah, an area with low precipitation. Yet there are places nearby that receive average amounts of precipitation so it is likely the region is not extraordinarily arid. Metasequoias also grow in the Los Angeles area, another region with low precipitation that is nearby areas that receive average precipitation. So there is evidence that Metasequoias have some tolerance to semi-arid climates.

There are no recorded examples of Metasequoias growing in the extremely wet areas of the Pacific Northwest or Southeast. The North Carolina Arboretum appears nearby areas with high precipitation, but is situated in a valley with more average precipitations. This might explain why Metasequoias grow in Los Angeles but not Florida. So clearly the trees grow the best in areas with average precipitation.

My research indicates that Metasequoias typically prefer an average to above average soil moisture. This is substantiated because most Metasequoias grow on the East coast, where soil moistures are higher. But Metasequoias may not be able to tolerate the moistest soils. I have no recorded examples of Metasequoias in areas like Florida or the Mississippi River region. Metasequoias also live in drier soils as well, like those near Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. But they can not live in the drier soils.

Metasequoias prefer average soil moistures like those found in much of the East. When they grow in more arid areas like at the Peavy Arboretum, BYU, and the Berkeley Gardens they are typically nearby areas with average to above-average amounts of soil moisture. The notable exception is the Huntington Botanic Gardens in Los Angeles.

Through research I found four soil orders with subsequent suborders that Metasequoias grow well in in the United States. Metasequoias grow well in soil order Mollisol (colored darker green). Some of these particular soils are in temperate, Mediterrean climates in Oregon and California. Metas also grow well in the soil order Anfisols (colored light green). These soils frequently grow in forests that form the areas surrounding the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Metasequoias also grow well in the order Ultisol (orange). This soil order is mainly present in the Southeastern States, and is characterized by a large amount of clay along with free drainage and a lack of humus. These areas supported mixed forests in the past. Lastly, Metasequoias grow in the order Entisol (light blue). One type of this soil is plowed over soil that is aided, manipulated, and altered through human hands. Entisols are mostly found in cities.

Metasequoias are a flexible genus, able to withstand many unfavorable conditions. The regions that they tend to favor are New Jersey, Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Oregon. Typically they prefer temperate climates with adequate but not excessive amounts of moisture. This is a surprising and relevant discovery because Metasequoias are related to Sequoias and Cypresses, trees that love great amounts of moisture. Metasequoias clearly can not tolerate great amounts of moisture, in areas like the Northwest and Florida. Soil preference is Alfisols and Mollisols, found primarily in the East Coast. They typically do not grow well in areas with high winds, deserts, or mountains. However they grow near Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. These are semi-arid, hot regions, yet they are not windy, receive somewhat adequate amounts of precipitation, and live in appropriate soils.