How to Identify a Sequoia

Sequoia trees are unlike anything else in nature. They are nature's largest living thing and are among the oldest living things on the planet. This makes them unique; however, there are some trees which can be similar. You will need to know several things to positively identify a sequoia tree. Read on to learn what you need to know.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take note of a tree's height. This is the first visual sign the tree could be a sequoia. Sequoia trees are commonly several hundred feet tall and have been known to reach heights of 300 feet tall. If the tree is more than 100 feet tall, there is a good chance it is a sequoia.

2. Observe the width of the trunk. Sequoias have unusually wide trunks which are commonly 10 feet in diameter and can be as wide as 40 feet.

3. Inspect the tree's bark. Sequoia trees have extremely thick bark. The bark is commonly a foot wide or wider.

4. See if the tree is a pine tree. Sequoias are evergreen pine trees. Their leaves are tiny, dark green pine needles which are not deciduous. They also produce pine cones, which are 2 to 3 inches long.

5. Know the difference between a sequoia and a redwood tree. Redwood trees get taller than sequoia trees, but sequoia trees have wider trunks. The best way to tell the difference between these two similar trees is where they are growing. Redwood trees grow only on the coast of northern California and southern Oregon while sequoia trees grow only in California's western Sierra Nevada Mountains.