NAME:  Giant Sequoia

OTHER COMMON NAMES:  Giant Redwood / Sierra Redwood / Big Tree

SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Sequoiadendron Giganteum

COLOR:  Yellow - Reddish Male Flowers turning to Brown

PLANT SEEDS:  Fall Sow / Cold Stratify / Early Spring

BLOOM TIME:  Spring

HARDINESS ZONE:   6 - 8

PLANT HEIGHT:   60 - 275'

PLANT SPACING:   25 - 60'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:   Sun - Part Shade

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES:   Average

QUANTITY:  40 Seeds

OTHER:   The Giant Sequoia is truly a giant. They are the largest trees in the world, & the largest living things by volume. Giant sequoias can grow to an average height of 150 – 280 feet tall with a diameter of 20 – 25 feet. The largest tree on record is 311 feet tall, & the widest is 27 feet in diameter.

They are also one of the oldest living things on earth. The oldest known giant sequoia based on ring count is 3,500 years old! Their pinecones can take up to 20 years to open!

The Giant Sequoia, a type of redwood, is only native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Most of these endangered trees are now protected in state & national parks. Many of the individual large trees are “famous” & have names like Hyperion (the tallest), Helios, & Icarus. The Giant Sequoia is the state tree of California.

As you may have guessed, this Sequoia is a fast growing tree! They grow about 4’ taller each year, & the trunks grow 2” wider. They can be grown in zones 6 – 8, but when cultivated in the climate of the eastern US normally reach only 40 – 60 feet tall. In addition to the US, these popular trees can today be found growing in Great Britain, Australia, & more thanks to gardeners. The trees are tolerant of both sandy & heavy clay soils as well as periods of drought, high winds, & coastal conditions. These coniferous evergreens have even become a popular Christmas tree variety.