California Redwood Sequoia sempervirens

The Coastal Redwood is the tallest tree in the world and can live for over 2,000 years. It is a densely branched evergreen conifer that grows to a height of 60 feet to 200 feet or more. The trunk of the tree flares at the base. It has a pyramidal shape with horizontal branches when young. As the tree ages, it becomes more conical and loses its lower branches. This tree is one of the fastest growing conifers and averages 3 feet per year.  Many of the trees are protected in places such as the Redwood National Park, Muir Woods, and some of California's State Parks. It is a close relative to the Giant Redwood, and each is designated as the State Tree of California. It is a member of the Cupressaceae or cypress family.   

The genus's name, Sequoia, is named in honor of the Native American Cherokee Chief Sequoyah. The epithet, sempervirens, means "evergreen."

It is native to Southwest Oregon to Central California in the moist, foggy, coastal plains along the Pacific Coast. 

The Coastal Redwood prefers full sun or light dappled shade. It performs well in rich, moist, and well-drained soil. It is tolerant of wet soil, but it is intolerant to dry soil. This tree will grow best in cool, moist, coastal climates. It does not require pruning. It is propagated by seeds or root cuttings. 

The bark is reddish-brown, hard, furrowed, and very thick. The leaves are needle-like, flat, spiral, two-ranked, green on the upper surface, and have two stomal bands on the underside of the needles. The small cones are hard and woody. 

When considering this tree remember that the Coastal Redwood thrives in cool, moist, coastal areas and will require a large space to thrive.

Quick ID Hints:

• conifer, evergreen, from 60 to more than 200 feet tall with a conical crown, flared based and loses lower branches as it ages
• the bark is reddish-brown, thick, hard, tough, and deeply furrowed
• the leaves are needle-like, 0.5 to 1-inch long, with sharp ends, bright green above, and two white stomal bands beneath
• the cones are about 1-inch long, hard, woody, and have thick wrinkled scales

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Insects generally do not cause any significant damage. Branch canker may girdle stems and branches. Heart rots can cause extensive damage. Other damaging agents include fire, fungi, and mammals. 

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University