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Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), also commonly known simply as redwood, is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia, trees in the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). The evergreen needles cover long branches that drape gracefully over the characteristic rust-colored bark of its trunk. These are the tallest trees on earth, with the tallest reaching at almost 380 feet, and a trunk at 26 feet around.


Redwood cones are small compared to other evergreens but are valuable food sources for wildlife. Coast redwood supports many animals, insects, amphibians and birds. The endangered Marbled Murrelet lives in the branches of old-growth redwood trees. The redwood grows within 30 miles of the coast in California and southwestern Oregon. It relies on ample fog and cool temperatures in the summer, and rainy winters. It also grows best when it has company; redwoods support each other with a network of roots and fungi.


If you are lucky enough to live in or near the redwood forest, there is little you need to do for the maintenance of your mature trees. When the inner needles turn brown and shed in late summer, know that this is normal. Even "evergreens" shed old leaves from time to time. Allow the needles to remain on the soil after they fall; they will protect the soil and add important nutrients back into the soil as they break down. When planting a new redwood, site it in moist soil, and away from buildings, where falling branches won't damage structures.

Sierra Redwood

Sequoiadendron giganteum

Giant sequoias are the world's largest single trees by volume. Record trees have been measured to be 94.8 m (311 ft) in height and over 17 m (56 ft) in diameter. The oldest known giant sequoia based on ring count is 3,500 years old. Sequoia bark is fibrous, furrowed, and may be 90 cm (3.0 ft) thick at the base of the columnar trunk. It provides significant fire protection for the trees. The leaves are evergreen, awl-shaped,.12-24 inches long, and arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are 1.5-3 inches long and mature in 18-20 months, though they typically remain green and closed for up to 20 years; each cone has 30-50 spirally arranged scales, with several seeds on each scale, giving an average of 230 seeds per cone. The seed is dark brown, (0.16-.20 in long and 0.039 in broad, with a 0.039 in wide, yellow-brown wing along each side. Some seeds are shed when the cone scales shrink during hot weather in late summer, but most are liberated when the cone dries from fire heat or is damaged by insects.

The giant sequoia regenerates by seed. Young trees start to bear cones at the age of 12 years. Trees up to about 20 years old may produce stump sprouts subsequent to injury, but unlike coast redwood, shoots do not form on the stumps of mature trees. Giant sequoias of all ages may sprout from their boles when branches are lost to fire or breakage.

At any given time, a large tree may be expected to have about 11,000 cones. Cone production is greatest in the upper portion of the canopy. A mature giant sequoia has been estimated to disperse 300,000-400,000 seeds per year. The winged seeds may be carried up to 590 ft from the parent tree.
Lower branches die fairly readily from shading, but trees less than 100 years old retain most of their dead branches. Trunks of mature trees in groves are generally free of branches to a height of 66-164 ft, but solitary trees will retain low branches. It tends to grow at elevations from 4600-8400 feet.

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