Giant sequoias have very specific climate requirements, so specific that they grow naturally only in a narrow 260-mile strip of mixed conifer forest on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, primarily between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation.

Can sequoia trees grow outside of California?

The Sequoias are only found in places where ample underground moisture is available in summer. Attempts to grow these trees in Northern States and other cold or wet climates have generally failed.

Can sequoia trees grow anywhere?

The Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia) is grown in all zones. Zones refer to climate. Extreme environments like low desert and far north present challenges for the sequoias. Specimen sequoias can be found in most climates indicating that the species is remarkably adaptable.

Are sequoia trees only in California?

Sequoias and giant redwoods are often referred to interchangeably, though they are two very different, though equally remarkable, species of tree. Both naturally occurring only in California, these two species share a distinctive cinnamon-colored bark and the proclivity for growing to overwhelming heights.

Are there sequoias in other countries?

Giant sequoia is a very popular ornamental tree in many areas. It is successfully grown in most of western and southern Europe, the Pacific Northwest of North America north to southwest British Columbia, the southern United States, southeast Australia, New Zealand and central-southern Chile.

California's giant sequoias are pillars of living history. Climate change may kill them

18 related questions found

Why do redwoods only grow in California?

Though they once thrived throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, today redwoods are only found on the coast from central California through southern Oregon. ... Redwoods, however, get their water from rain rather than snowmelt, and therefore require consistent rainfall throughout the year.

Can you grow a giant sequoia in Louisiana?

The answer is: yes you can, provided you're living in a temperate climate zone. More about the world regions where giant sequoias have been planted successfully, can be found here.

Is it illegal to plant a redwood tree?

Generally, it is legal to plant a redwood tree even in your backyard. You just need to consider the growth of its body and roots. The temperature and climate are also vital factors contributing to their growth. Redwoods usually grow somewhere down the Oregon and California coast.

Does Yosemite have sequoia trees?

Massive, ancient giant sequoias live in three groves in Yosemite National Park. The most easily accessible of these (spring through fall) is the Mariposa Grove near the park's South Entrance, off of the Wawona Road (Highway 41). Two smaller—and less visited—groves are the Tuolumne and Merced Groves near Crane Flat.

How much is a sequoia tree worth?

How much is a sequoia tree worth? The irreplaceable ecological value of the evolved and complex old growth Sequoia forests is pitched against their present economic value of more than $100,000 for each and every mature Sequoia tree.

Which are bigger redwoods or sequoias?

Shape and size. —The giant sequoia is the largest tree in the world in volume and has an immense trunk with very slight taper; the redwood is the world's tallest tree and has a slender trunk. Cones and seed. —The cones and seed of the giant sequoia are about three times the size of those produced by the redwood.

Can sequoia trees grow in New York?

(And yes, there are giant sequoias that have been planted and are thriving in New York State, including at Wave Hill in the Bronx, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and New York Botanical Garden, and on private properties on Long Island.

How deep do sequoia roots go?

The sequoia redwood trees have a unique root system that is a marvel, compared to their mammoth size. Their roots are relatively shallow. There is no tap root to anchor them deep into the earth. The roots actually only go down 6-12 feet, and yet, these trees rarely fall over.

Can you bonsai a giant sequoia?

Sequoias are ravenous feeders and will grow accordingly. It is a mistake to attempt to miniaturize the giant sequoia by withholding nourishment. Miniaturization must be done with bonsai techniques such as selective branch pruning. Sequoias are self pruning in the roots.

Why do sequoias not grow everywhere?

It is pretty clear that natural migration by colonization of new sites is a hit-or-miss process that operated over long periods of time. Redwoods and giant sequoias have been able to thus far survive several events or conditions that led to the extinction of many other species.

Are there any giant sequoias left?

The last of the world's most massive trees now live on just 73 groves scattered across the Sierras. Most lie within protected national parks such as Sequoia national park, where visitors flock from around the world to marvel at General Sherman, the world's most massive tree.

How far apart are Sequoia and Yosemite?

The drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park is 215 miles (346 km).

Where are the California giant redwoods?

You can find them in redwood forests near the California coast from the Oregon border down to Big Sur. Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) grow only in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains near the state's eastern border.

Are there giant Redwoods in Yosemite?

Yosemite is home to the world's most massive tree species, the giant sequoia, which is sometimes (and increasingly rarely) called the “Sierra redwood.” (You may also know it simply as the "bigtree.") The largest sequoias—which are found south of Yosemite in and around Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks—may grow ...

Is Redwood a pine?

This confusion has come about because the Redwood which grows along the coast has been called "Redwood," and the Redwood which grows in the mountains has been called "Big Tree." Both species of trees are REDWOOD, the same as two pines are both Pines, though one may be called Digger Pine and the other may be known as ...

Why do Sequoias grow so big?

Giant sequoia grow so large because they live a very long time and grow quickly. To thrive, giant sequoia require a great amount of water, which they primarily receive from the Sierra snowpack that accumulates over the winter months and soaks into the ground when it melts.

Can you grow a sequoia tree in Florida?

Sequoia sempervirens, the coast redwoods of California, are the tallest trees in the world. ... Bark is particularly beautiful, turning a bright orange on older trees. It may grow poorly in zones 9 and 10 in Florida.

Why do Sequoias need fire?

Giant sequoia cones are serotinous, which means that fire on the forest floor causes them to dry out, open and release their seeds. This adaptation ensures that the tree times the release of most of its seeds to coincide with fire, which creates ideal conditions for regeneration success.

How do you collect sequoia seeds?

If you decide to harvest the seed, try to find a mature sequoias tree and look for green cones on the ground. They are the ones with the highest chance of germination (20 to 40% in their natural habitat). Let them dry inside the house. The cones will slowly open and shed their seeds.

Can you grow a redwood tree?

After growing the base of its root system, which takes two years following planting in the ground, a healthy redwood will grow around 5 feet each year, and can easily reach 150 feet within a person's lifetime. Redwoods should generally not be planted in direct sunlight.