sequoia

( seh - KWOY - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Known commonly as Redwood, California Redwood or Coast Redwood, this genus of evergreen trees is native to the Coast Ranges in California and Oregon. These trees are among the tallest in the world, some even reaching upwards of 350 feet at maturity. These are great trees for landscaping and are relatively pest-free, needing full sun and regular water. In gardens, these trees reach between 35 and 50 feet tall and have a pyramid shape. Leaves are medium green above, greyish below, and cones are brown. The trunks are reddish-brown and have fibrous bark. Branches grow horizontally out from the trunk and turn upwards slightly at the tips. Drooping branchlets grow from these main branches, carrying the foliage. These large trees are used in large landscapes as specimen trees, tall privacy screening, or grouped in groves.

sequoia Species and Varietals

The genus Sequoia is a member of the plant family Cupressaceae, and includes only one extant (living) species, Sequoia sempervirens. The plants in this genus are closely related to Sequoiadendron (Giant Sequoia) and Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood). The ideal growing zones for Coast Redwood are USDA hardiness zones 6-8 or Sunset growing zones 4-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
'Aptos Blue'
This variety has blue-green foliage.
'Emily Brown'
A redwood with a column shape and green foliage. Fast growing.
​'Kelly's Prostrate'
This variety grows around 6 inches per year with a flat growth pattern.
​'Simpson's Silver'
With silver-green foliage; grows at about 12 feet per year and makes a great screening plant.
'Soquel'
Green foliage that is tinted blue on branchlets that turn up at the tips.
'Filoli' and 'Woodside'
These varieties have green-blue foliage and need training when young to form a strong trunk and upright habit.
'Adpressa' ('Albo-Spica')
Reaches 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with white-tipped new foliage that matures to green.

Caring for sequoia

These beautiful, fast-growing landscape trees do well in full sun, but they can also tolerate partial shade. For optimal growth and foliage color, make sure that the tree receives between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. These trees can grow to be quite large, so make sure that the chosen planting site has enough space to allow for the full size of the tree. Sequoias prefer moist but well-draining soil that is slightly acidic to neutral with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. They can tolerate a wide variety of soil types, as long as they are well-draining, but do prefer loamy soil. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. Water new plantings regularly as they develop strong root systems. During dry spells, make sure to provide extra deep waterings. Established trees are somewhat drought-tolerant, but do perform best with consistent moisture. Water deeply, especially during long dry periods of the year, and allow soil to dry out somewhat between waterings to discourage fungal root rot issues.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prunings should focus on maintaining the tree's natural pyramidal form instead of changing it, and these trees do not need much assistance in doing so on their own. In late winter or early springtime, simply remove dead, broken, or diseased branches. Make sure to hire a certified arborist for large or high-hazard branches. Never top these trees, as it will ruin their natural central leader and permanently disfigure them. Sequoia trees can be expected to survive for thousands of years before needing to be replaced.​

Propagation

Sequoias are best propagated using seed harvested in the previous season. To propagate your Sequoia tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sequoia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. Seeds are contained inside of the female cones on the tree, which are typically ready for harvesting in December and early January in most climates. Remove female cones from the tree, or pick them up off of the ground if they have started to drop already, and place them in a paper bag. Gather as many as you can and bring them indoors. Place the bag in a cool, dark, dry area as the cones open up and release seeds. The bag can also be shaken once in a while to speed up the process. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag to work with them.
  3. Seeds will need to be cold-stratified; to do so, place them in a plastic bag or other sealable container filled with moistened peat moss or sand. Place the container in the refrigerator and leave it for between four and six weeks' time. Remove the seeds and then take them out to work with them.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1 to 6 weeks from sowing.
  5. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  6. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Sequoia trees produce cones that can hold anywhere between 40 and 400 (though typically between 200 and 230) seeds.
Sequoia seeds are about the size of a flake of oatmeal and have wings on each side.

Problems and Pests

Sequoia trees can be susceptible to the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • ​Botrytis Blight (Gray Mold)
  • Botryosphaeria Canker & Dieback
  • Root Rot
  • Decay Fungi
  • Scale Insects
  • Sequoia Pitch Moth
  • Bark Beetles
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Dwarf cultivars are perfect for smaller gardens.
Full-sized Sequoia trees are best in larger landscapes.
A Giant Sequoia tree growing kit.

Videos

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Resources

Wikipedia: Sequoia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 601 - 602, Sequoia sempervirens