Sequoia

Sequoia is a common name for several large trees native to western North America, most notably the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The name honors Sequoyah, the Cherokee scholar who created the Cherokee syllabary. Although frequently grouped together, the giant sequoia belongs to a different genus than the coast redwood.

Coast redwoods occur along a narrow strip of the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to central California. They thrive in foggy environments where winter rainfall provides water and summer fog supplies additional moisture. Giant sequoias grow in the Sierra Nevada of California, at elevations roughly 1,500–2,500 meters, in groves with deep soils and periodic fires that aid in cone opening and seedling establishment.

Coast redwoods reach heights over 350 feet (about 107 meters). Giant sequoias are among the largest trees by volume, with heights around 80–90 meters and trunks up to about 11 meters in diameter. Lifespans can exceed 2,000 years for coastal redwoods and reach 2,000–3,000 years for giant sequoias, making them some of the longest-lived trees on earth.

Ecology and adaptations include thick bark and the ability to resprout after damage. Cone opening and seed release are often aided by heat from fire. These trees depend on regular moisture from rainfall and fog and on well-drained soils, with ecosystems that have historically experienced periodic fire regimes.

Conservation efforts protect large populations in national and state parks, notably Redwood National and State Parks and several groves within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Threats include drought, climate change, and intensified wildfires, leading to management practices that emphasize habitat protection, fire regimes, and reforestation where needed.