Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia State Trees of California

The State tree of California is two trees, the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).

The coast redwood is also known as the California redwood. This giant is a native of Northern California and is found along the coast from southern Monterey County to the Chetco River in the Siskiyou Mountains near the Oregon border.

Redwood is prized for its resistance to disease and pests. The wood is soft and easily split. It is a popular choice for cut lumber, shingles, and table surfaces. It is also made into veneers.

Old growth redwood is home to the spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. The marbled murrelet is a short, squatty water bird that is related to the puffin. Both bird species make their home high in tall trees. Both are endangered species.

The redwood can live for thousands of years and reach heights greater than 300 feet. The root system spreads laterally. Redwood stands are home to birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The trees grow rapidly, as much as 6 feet per year. They prefer full sun but and survive in heavily shaded locations.

The giant sequoia is found in California on the western edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There are currently 75 groves of these giant trees. The sequoia is also knows as bigtree, and Sierra redwood. The sequoia grows mixed with other trees including California white fir, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir.

Sequoias are popular with the local birds. Sapsuckers, white-headed woodpeckers, and flickers are among the species that nest there. Chickarees prefer the pine cone scales as a food source. Chickaree is also known as the American red squirrel.

The sequoia can planted as a specimen tree. They can grow as high as 250 feet with a diameter of 15-20 feet. The sequoia is monoecious, having both male and female cones. It prefers mild, wet winters and dry summers. The sequoia prefers well drained sandy loam. The seeds germinate well on soil cleared by fire and soil disturbance from activity such as logging.

Sequoias are found in higher elevations where is significant snowfall. They can tolerate temperature extremes of -12º-104ºF. Their growth rate is dependent on availability of sunlight and adequate moisture. Trees is groves average 1.6 inches per year. Trees is open areas can grow 24 inches per year.

Sources
Sequoia sempervirens, US Forest Service, http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/seqsem/all.html
Sequois sempervirens, The Sequoia Fund, http://sempervirens.org/sequoiasemp.htm
Sequoiadendron giganteum, US Forest Service, http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/seqgig/all.html
Sequoiadendron giganteum, US Forest Service, http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoiadendron/giganteum.htm