While “sequoia” and “redwood” are often used interchangeably, they refer to distinct, though related, tree species. This misconception stems from their shared impressive size and reddish wood. Understanding their individual characteristics reveals their unique features and preferred environments.
Coast Redwoods
Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest living trees on Earth, reaching heights exceeding 380 feet. Their natural habitat is a narrow coastal strip from southwestern Oregon to central California, where they thrive in the moist, foggy climate provided by the Pacific Ocean. This constant coastal fog is crucial for their survival, providing essential moisture during dry summer months.
The bark of a coast redwood is typically reddish-brown, thick, and fibrous, sometimes reaching two feet in thickness. Their leaves are needle-like, about 0.5 to 1 inch long, and arranged in flat, feathery sprays. Coast redwoods are also known for their longevity, often living between 1,200 to 2,200 years.
Giant Sequoias
Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are the largest trees on Earth by volume. While not as tall as coast redwoods, they possess immense girth, with some trunks spanning over 30 feet in diameter at the base. These trees are exclusively found on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, typically at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet.
Giant sequoias can live for a long time, with the oldest known specimens estimated to be over 3,200 years old. Their reddish-brown bark is thick and deeply furrowed, often reaching up to 3 feet in thickness at the base. Unlike the needle-like leaves of coast redwoods, giant sequoias have small, awl-shaped, scale-like leaves that are bluish-green and spirally arranged on their shoots.
Comparing the Giants
Coast redwoods and giant sequoias exhibit distinct differences. Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are known for their extreme height, while giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are recognized for their massive volume and girth. A coast redwood typically has a more slender trunk compared to the wide, slightly tapering trunk of a giant sequoia.
Their natural habitats also differ. Coast redwoods thrive in the humid, foggy coastal environment of northern California and southwestern Oregon. Giant sequoias are found inland in the drier, mountainous terrain of California’s Sierra Nevada range, relying on snowmelt for water. Coast redwoods have flat, needle-like leaves, whereas giant sequoias have small, scale-like leaves.
Their cones also vary in size. Coast redwood cones are typically 0.8 to 1 inch long. Giant sequoia cones are larger, usually measuring 1.5 to 3.5 inches. Both species have reddish-brown bark, but coast redwoods have more fibrous bark, while giant sequoias exhibit deeply furrowed bark.
The Redwood Family Connection
The reason for the frequent confusion between these two tree species lies in their close botanical relationship. Both the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) belong to the same botanical subfamily, Sequoioideae, which is part of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). The common term “redwood” is often applied to any tree in this subfamily due to the characteristic reddish color of their wood.
This subfamily comprises three living genera. In addition to the coast redwood and giant sequoia, there is a third species called the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Native to central China, the Dawn Redwood is deciduous and generally smaller than its Californian relatives.