What Grows Beneath Redwoods?
Coast sequoias or redwoods form the canopy of the redwood forests. Bark, fallen needles and decaying dead trees provide nutrients and mulch for the lush vegetation below. The decaying plant matter turns the soil acidic, influencing the types of plants that grow in it.
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Douglas Fir
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Giant redwood trees dwarf the 80-foot Douglas firs. Douglas fir trees grow up to 80 feet, but seem dwarfed alongside the redwoods. Firs are also conifers with needles and pine cones. They have dark gray bark, and grow quickly.
Rhododendrons
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Rhododendrons like the acidic soil under the redwood trees. The acid soils of the redwood forest make a perfect growing medium for California rhododendrons. The rhododendrons grow 4 to 10 feet tall, and maintain their leaves year-round. They bloom in spring and summer with dazzling displays of pink flowers.
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Berry Bushes
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Blackberries inhabit the under growth of the redwood forest. Several varieties of berry bushes thrive under the redwood canopy. Look for blackberry, thimble berry, huckleberry and salmon berry. These berries provide abundant food for animals, including black bears.
Redwood Sorrel
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Redwood sorrel grows in moist areas under the redwoods. Redwood sorrel is a perennial woody ground cover under redwood trees. It grows best in the wet areas of the forest, and produces pinkish white flowers spring through midsummer.
Bracken Fern
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Bracken fern grows abundantly under the trees of the redwood forest. Bracken ferns can grow alone, but are usually found in large clusters. A single main stem sprouts 1- to 4-foot branches. These ferns can grow under moist or dry conditions and varied amounts of sunlight.
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References
- Photo Credit three sequoias image by Kenneth Sponsler from Fotolia.com giant sequoia image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com Rhododendron image by Jan Ebling from Fotolia.com black berries image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com Woodsorrel (Oxalis sp.) in redwood forest in California image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com detail of green bracken image by Jaroslav Machacek from Fotolia.com
