Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens is native to a narrow coastal strip of the Pacific coast of North America, spanning from extreme southwestern Oregon to central California.

• Natural range extends approximately 750 km from southern Oregon (near the Chetco River) south to Monterey County, California
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 900 meters, strictly confined to the coastal fog belt
• Rarely found more than 50 km inland from the coast
• The species has existed for at least 20 million years, with fossil relatives dating to the Jurassic period
• Before 19th-century logging began, old-growth redwood forests covered approximately 800,000 hectares; today less than 5% of the original old-growth remains
• First described by the Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher in 1847, who established the genus Sequoia

Sequoia sempervirens is a massive, fast-growing, evergreen conifer with a tall, straight, cylindrical trunk.

Size:
• Height: typically 60 to 100 meters, with record specimens reaching 115+ meters
• Trunk diameter: typically 3 to 5 meters at breast height, occasionally reaching 7 meters
• Crown: narrow, conical to irregular, occupying the uppermost portion of the tree

Bark:
• Thick, fibrous, deeply furrowed, up to 30 cm thick at the base
• Rich reddish-brown to cinnamon-brown color, soft and spongy to the touch
• Provides excellent insulation against fire and insect damage

Foliage:
• Two distinct forms: lance-shaped and spreading on leader shoots; flattened, linear, and two-ranked on shaded branchlets
• Dark green above with two whitish stomatal bands beneath, typically 15 to 25 mm long

Cones:
• Small, ovoid to globose, 15 to 25 mm long
• Mature in one season, releasing 20 to 40 tiny winged seeds in late autumn
• Among the smallest cones relative to tree size of any conifer

Coast redwoods are ecosystem engineers that create and sustain a unique forest environment.

Habitat:
• Strictly confined to the coastal fog belt of northern California and southern Oregon
• Receives 25 to 50% of annual moisture from summer coastal fog drip, critical during the dry season
• Grows best in alluvial flats and streamside positions with deep, moist, well-drained soils
• Forms nearly pure stands on favorable sites, mixed with Douglas fir, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce at higher elevations

Ecosystem role:
• Creates a multi-layered canopy ecosystem supporting ferns, mosses, lichens, and epiphytic shrubs including canopy-dwelling huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
• Fallen logs and snags provide critical habitat for amphibians, invertebrates, and fungi
• Redwood-lined streams support salmon and steelhead trout populations through temperature regulation and large woody debris inputs
• Redwood forests are among the most carbon-dense terrestrial ecosystems on Earth

Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

• Approximately 95% of the original old-growth coast redwood forest was logged between 1850 and 1970
• Today, roughly 45% of remaining redwood forest (including second-growth) is protected in parks and reserves
• Major protected areas include Redwood National and State Parks (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980), Muir Woods National Monument, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Remaining old-growth faces threats from climate change, altered fire regimes, and declining summer fog frequency
• The species itself is not at risk of extinction — it regenerates vigorously from stump sprouts — but old-growth ecosystems are irreplaceable
• Save the Redwoods League, founded in 1918, has protected over 90,000 hectares of redwood forest

Best suited for cool, moist coastal climates.

• Hardiness zones: USDA 7 to 9, performs best in zones 8 to 9 with summer fog
• Requires consistent moisture — does not tolerate prolonged drought without fog drip or irrigation
• Prefers deep, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils
• Full sun to partial shade; young trees benefit from some shade
• Rapid growth rate — young trees can grow 1 to 2 meters per year in favorable conditions
• Not suitable for hot interior climates or areas with cold, drying winter winds
• Transplants readily when young; select nursery-grown container stock

Coast redwood has been valued for its timber and ornamental qualities for centuries.

Timber:
• Heartwood is highly resistant to decay and insect damage, prized for outdoor construction, decking, fencing, and siding
• Lightweight, straight-grained, easy to work, with a rich reddish color
• Historically one of the most commercially valuable timber species in California
• Second-growth redwood continues to be harvested on managed timberlands

Ornamental:
• Widely planted as a landscape specimen in suitable climates, including the British Isles, New Zealand, and western Europe
• Used in parks, estates, and large gardens for dramatic form and rapid growth

Ecological:
• Old-growth redwood forests store more carbon per hectare than virtually any other forest type on Earth
• Redwood tourism generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually for local economies