Ron,

Are you asking about seedling variation? That's why they have differing structure, naturally.

Dax

In my experience between growing from seed, and observing local trees (they are fairly commonly planted here), Metasequoias have quite a bit of variability in form when seed grown. Some are tall and skinny, others short and stout. Some do have more horizontal branches, others more ascending.

There also seems to be some variability in the way they defoliate in fall. Some get completely bare, but others exhibit some degree of marcesensce. However, that might be more due to hard freezes hitting before leaves have fully turned in fall on their own.

There's one in town here with all the side branches upswept like that. It happens. Personally, I prefer the former pic.

+oM

Here's mine of similar size -- kinda in-between ones you show:

This pic is a few weeks old. No snow now. My species tree seems to be of fatter variety. My Ogon has the swept up branches.

While traveling Ohio I thought I noticed a city based difference in how these grew. Dawes seemed to have squat thick old trees while Rowe and Seecrest (spelling?) Had taller thin ones maybe because they were in mini groves and a large grove the tornado just exposed to more light? Are your and your neighbor's trees similarly situated? My Ogon gets some shade and has 45 degree branching. My species tree is 100 feet from anything that shades it so darned near in true full sun, it has 20 degree branching for the most part.

+om,me too

beng, I see it,,,,kinda rustic out there

toronado, both pics are from the south,,,the neighbor's is squashed between a big spruce and a deciduous tree,,,,though in younger years, it probably got plenty of sun

I wonder if there is a cultivariant available of Meta. that is super narrow,,,,just asking

ron

I got a cool story about my tree,,,,,,has to do with ladders,,,,will flip ken's lid (he seems to have thing about ladders)

Ron, I'm trialing one I named 'Derksen' that was sent as a rooted cutting some years ago. The ortet was 25' tall and 5-6' wide at the bottom. Looked almost like a typical balsam fir. Branches uniform from bottom to top such as a narrow pyramidal. Bark is also peeling black on most all branches. My tree is maybe 12' tall and 4-5' wide, however it was caged and all the bottom branches grew thru the holes in the cage and that forced them sideways and then up.

Other variants available are: 'Waasland' and 'Sheridan Spire'. 'Waasland' being the better of the two. 'Derksen' has branching like 'Waasland' which are very ascending.

Here's my Metasequoia 'Derksen' (2012)

Dax, do you have an Ogon? would you say it is normally thinner than the species? i can see where its neon lime foliage as much as I love it is not for everyone. A green version would be warranted.

Tornado:

The deal with grafted trees is that they lose the apical dominance that the ortet tree has and not all grafts of the same cultivar will result in the same shape, however what we do know is most will become wider than the parent. Additionally, cultivariance 'grafting wood' occurs and may also produce a more upright tree or that of one similar to the parent. So there are no strict set of rules, yet there is a tendency that grafted plants will become wider than that of the parent.

I'm growing 'Silhouette'. It's only 6-7' and I removed multiple leaders last year to get it growing as a single trunk specimen. It's quite bare with most side branches being removed last year, as well.

Then I have (9) seedling Metasequoia in the worst clay soil on my property that were plugs I planted in 2010?maybe? that are only 6-8' tall.

Dax

Hey Dax , Isn't Waasland Wisconsin ?

your silhouette sounds freaky,,,,shoot us some pics in summer

ron

Yours is ever so slightly limbed up, while the second pic isn't. I know the act of limbing up can affect the buttressing and probably even the branching habit of the DR in the future. I'm sure if your neighbor and you did limb up to say 3 feet, it wouldn't look much different.