WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

Native Plant Nursery & Gardens

2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97317-9216

E-Mail: Wallace W Hansen
Phone: 503-581-2638; Fax: 408-586-1306

Click here for Home Page: www.nwplants.com

For information about Wallace W Hansen Northwest Native Plant Nursery & Gardens: Business Information (Ordering, etc.)

Updated August 18, 2007

Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

A Note from Wally: I grow Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and many other Northwest Native Plants here in my Nursery and Gardens in the Willamette Valley in Western Oregon. I specialize in Northwest Native Plants and sell both Wholesale and Retail, depending on quantity. I usually have plants available year-round in one gallon containers and often in various other container sizes and as Bare Root plants in the Winter months. This site is intended as a reference for all who are interested in Northwest Native Plants: amateur, professional – everyone. For more information, go to my Home Page at www.nwplants.com and then click on Plant Catalog for current prices and availability. Be sure and then click on Plant Sales for any bargains. If you buy in large quantities, check the Wholesale Information Sites on my Home Page.

If you have any information about this species – stories, climates, uses, propagation, etc. please contact me at plants@nwplants.com If I publish your tips and information, I will credit you on the web and send you a credit memo.

(Click on image for large view)

Description:

The Big Tree is nature's finest masterpiece ... the greatest of all living things, it belongs to an ancient stock and has a strange air of another day about it, a thoroughbred look inherited from long ago -- the Auld Lang Syne of trees." --JOHN MUIR

The Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is the tallest tree in the world and one of the largest trees known to man in sheer mass. Larger than a dinosaur, bigger than a whale, as tall as a football field is long, these incredibly huge trees are now native to the coastal regions of Oregon and Northern California.

The Coast Redwood, are evergreen with fibruous bark.  This bark is very unusual and plays a large part in the tree's survival over the centuries. The outer layer is made up of dead cells. It can measure 1 foot thick and has very little resin which helps keep the trees safe from damage in forest fires. The bark also contains a natural tannic acid that is unpalatable to most insects and is very disease-resistant. The loss of lower branches reduces the fire ladder effect when there is a lack of understory trees, another way to limit fire damage. With very shallow root systems, 95% of the sequoias have roots no deeper than 3 meters. This explains why the big trees are so massive around the base, to avoid wind blow down.  With these built-in preservation factors, we can see why the Big Trees can live so long--the oldest known fallen tree had approximately 3300 annual growth rings. 

Cones from these trees hold an average of 200 seeds, very light in weight and they have wings to help them disperse in the wind. Sequoia cones are serotinous, releasing seed only when subjected to extreme heat.In weight, it is estimated that 91,000 seeds would equal one pound. They usually take over 2 years to mature, and may remain on the tree up to 20 years. As each tree produces an average 1,500 cones per year, a mature tree may have up to 40,000 cones at any given time. Statistally, out of 40,000 cones, 1/3 are seedless. The rest are green and sheltered within the cone until fire or the long horned beetle (Phymatodes nitidus) causes the cones to open and release the seeds. When the forest surrounding the tree catches fire, hot air plumes into the tree canopy high above and dries the cones which then open and release their seeds. The beetle larvae, on the other hand, disconnect the seeds from the cone which triggers the dry-and-release mechanism. Another forest wildlife companion, the Douglas squirrel, or chickaree, (Tamiasciurus douglasii), is also a contributor to releasing the seeds as they feed on the fleshy part of the cones. Although the squirrels and other rodents store cones for their winter food, most of those buried will never take root. Of the seeds that do mature and fall to the ground, they must find bare mineral soil to germinate and full sun as they are shade intolerant. The lucky seeds falling onto the soil in a patch of sunlight must become firmly established before the dry Sierran summer comes. Once these tender youths are settled, their growth is very rapid.

Habitat and Geographic Range:

Eons of ever-warmer summers and cooler winters have almost decimated the giant sequoia and their cousins, the coast redwood of northern California and the metasequoia of southern regions of China. Fossils of the giants have been found in the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Once ranged throughout northern America and Europe, these trees now grow naturally in more moist areas such as Oregon and California coasts. In an estimated 7 million years they have "traveled" from Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming to the east and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south and at this time the last of the great groves of the giant sequoia that are known to exist today are located on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada from Placer County to southern Tulare County, California. Found at elevations of 4500 to 8400 ft, the groves are spread over many acres of forest land.

Of course, they are still found in smaller groupings, mostly along the coastal regions of the northwestern United States where the coastal fogs provide the water which drips down to the soil level, giving clean, cool water to the roots below. Showing a marked preference for deep well-drained soils, the Old Ones are more often found on the west side of mountain slopes in the 4,000 to 7,000 foot range. Although the summers may offer only drought conditions, the fog steps in when the winter rains and snow taper off. They can withstand temperatures from -10 to 95 degrees. This marks them hardy up to Plant Zone 6, and even higher zones if sheltered until the tender young trees are acclimated to colder regions. They do prefer full sun.

The coast redwoods are such rapid growers they easily beat out any competition to claim their space. They can grow up to 2 feet per year, blocking out light for the competitors. Remember, though, that over time they will get large--really large.

Uses of Plant:

The coast redwood has excellent ornamental value, as specimen or feature tree or planted in groups. They make excellent windbreaks and privacy screens while still young (their fast growth is an added advantage). Their beautiful foliage and bark is a perfect backdrop for smaller shrubs with similar growing conditions. They do not require trimming as a rule, and their drought resistance make them fairly maintenance free once established.

(Click on image for large view)

Logging companies tried for many years to harvest the old growth giants, and played a major part in wiping out a large percentage of their population. Finally they concluded that the older trees were not cost-effective to harvest. Over 80% of the wood was lost due to the tendency of these Old Ones to shatter when they hit the ground. Now under the protection of national and state parks, cutting is no longer a concern. Instead, the logging companies learned to plant new trees specifically for cutting and they harvest them when young. Cut in their youth, the wood does make good shingles, fence posts, and landscape structures such as gazebos and trellis. The young-growth timber is comparable to other lumber species grown in the same general areas.

Sometimes grown as Christmas trees.

Native Americans traditionally use them for food, medicine, tools, and utensils.

Some modern medicinal uses.

Propagation:

Coast redwood may be propagated from seed or cuttings.

Cuttings are best taken from trees less than 30 years old, but may be taken from older trees with limited success. Treat cut ends with a rooting hormone and place in damp earth or humus. Make sure they are kept slightly damp but well-drained until firmly rooted.

Seeds which have been extracted from fresh, ripe cones should be soaked overnight in clear water. Pot in sand or well-drained soil and place in a cool area (do not let them dry out!) for about 60 days. 

Culture:

Needs of the Old Ones are few: sun, well-drained soil, sufficient moisture when young and room to grow! They appreciate a nice shower during extremely dry spells.

Pests and Diseases:

Among the most fire, disease, and insect resistant trees known. Usually not harmed by disease, they are sometimes weakened when the roots are damaged and finally will blow down. Minimal problems with fungi. One insect which does cause problems is the Carpenter ant. They do not bother the trees directly but do facilitate entry of fungus and some beatles. The one pest most harmful to the giants is visitors. 

In nurseries, either home or commercial, grey mold will sometimes attack the foliage and roots if care is not taken to give the young trees enough sun and air circulation. Root rot is sometimes a factor when the soil is not sufficiently well-drained.

Thanks, and happy gardening!

Wally

Click here to return to my Home Page

Questions about plants, click here:  Regular Email to Wally

Comments or questions about our web site, click here: Webmaster