Information on the Giant Sequoia Trees of California

Giant sequoias are considered the largest trees in the world.

The giant sequoia, an ancient tree species endemic to California, is considered the largest tree in the world due to the volume of its trunk. Some of the oldest living specimens are more than 3,000 years old.

Identification and Properties

The giant sequoia is an evergreen that can grow to be more than 250 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Its needles are bluish-green and scale-like. The cinnamon-colored bark of the giant sequoia is thick and resistant to fire. It is nonetheless soft and easy to shred. The tree also contains a natural preservative that makes it resistant to disease and decay.

Distribution

The western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California are the only places in the world where giant sequoias occur naturally. The trees are found at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. The Giant Sequoia National Monument encompasses 353,000 acres of forest and 33 groves of giant sequoias.

Reproduction

The cone of the giant sequoia resembles a chicken egg in size and shape. It can remain on the tree and continue to grow for up to 20 years. Storms, fire and animals cause it to open. The seeds are no larger than 1/4 inch in length and require exposed mineral soil to germinate. Trees 20 years and younger have been known to generate sprouts from stumps after injury.

References

• U.S. Forest Service: Giant Sequoia National Monument
• American Museum of Natural History: Giant Sequoia
• U.S. Forest Service: Tree Identification Guide
• The Forest Foundation: Know Your California Trees
• National Park Service: The Giant Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada: Chapter 2