Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a vigorous deciduous conifer making a large, narrowly conical tree to 25m, with flat sprays of narrow, pale green leaves that turn brownish-pink and yellow in autumn. Cones and flowers insignificant. It has reddish-brown fibrous bark.

Taxodium distichum - the Swamp Cypress - is also a deciduous conifer with flattened shoots 

Leaves flattened in two rows in opposite pairs.  (Taxodium leaves are spirally or alternately arranged.)

Photographs of shoots showing opposite leaves; photo of whole tree

Sometimes planted in parks and gardens.

All year round.

Deciduous.

Scattered records from across Britain.

Uncommon or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.