Coastal Redwood

*This species produces the world’s tallest trees. Ensure you plant far enough away from structures, well-travelled pathways and driveways, powerlines, and underground pipes.

This giant and attractive evergreen tree grow with a single, straight trunk bearing thick, deeply furrowed, and fibrous reddish-brown bark, which turns grey when exposed and aged. The crown is conical to cylindrical and comprises gently drooping branches, which gives this species its iconic silhouette.

Branchlets weakly differentiate into long and short shoots, either with dense or well-separated leaves. Annual growth, approximating 45 to 50 cm per annum, terminates in loose, scaly, winter buds. Leaves are spirally arranged, attached at the base enveloping most of the twigs, either with scale or needle leaves.

Coastal Redwoods are monoecious and will produce both pollen stomata and pollen cones on the same tree. Cones will appear on some trees which are 20 to 30 years old, however, seed fertility rates are low. Sequoia trees reach sexual maturity between 200 and 250 years of age.

Redwoods are the tallest living trees, with only Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) approaching similar heights. Redwoods are very long-living, with reports of groves and individual trees upwards of 2000 years old.

Redwoods are fire resistant and can resprout from fire-damaged or logged stumps, which is unusual for conifers in general. Redwoods have a high moisture requirement and survive in summer-dry environments where coastal fog maintain humidity and reduce summer temperatures. This bodes well for redwoods grown in Australia, as they will do well in areas where rainfall totals exceed 800mm per annum, experience regular fog and mist and moderate summer temperatures. Redwoods therefore will grow well in climates that correspond with cool temperate, warm temperate to sub-tropical climates. Redwoods do not respond well to continual cold, dry winds, however, if planted in gullies, clusters or sheltered and protected areas, perform well in places such as Canberra and even Hobart.

The Coastal Redwood’s natural range is currently confined to pockets of the west coast of the United States, ranging from northern California into Southern Oregon. Sadly once covering much larger territory, much of the original habitat was cleared and logged early last century.

Fossil records indicate that Coastal Redwoods, along with their relatives the Giant and Dawn Redwood was once widely dispersed across the globe with fossilized pollen, leaf imprints and tree stumps found throughout Europe and Asia. Even in what is now Australia and New Zealand, there are many fossilized deposits showing evidence of the sister lineage Austrosequoia, throughout what is now Queensland through to Tasmania, bordering the Eromanga Sea. Fossil evidence shows deposits spanning from the Cretaceous period and becoming less frequent from 30 million years ago where it begins to disappear completely from records.

Coast Redwoods can attain heights over 100 metres tall with spreading branches more than 25 metres at maturity under ideal conditions. Most specimens will attain heights between 30 to 40 metres throughout human life, with spreads between 8 to 12 metres. Care should be taken when planting to plan for the tree’s height and circumference at maturity. Tree trunks can have a circumference of up to 9 metres and will produce clonal suckers under stressful conditions, such as drought or disturbance.

Root systems can extend between 1.85 to 3.7 metres below ground and will eventually radiate outwards to support the size of the tree as it grows. Plant far enough away from concrete and asphalt surfaces as roots will uplift and damage structures.

This is best planted as a cash crop, in fields, large gardens or as a stately ornamental tree that will provide enjoyment for centuries to come. A truly magnificent species that when planted is a time capsule for future generations to behold and enjoy.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding any item you see in our catalogue as we want to help you buy the right item for your needs.

Find out more about Redwoods here, at the Arbor Day Foundation.