Sequoias are indeed found in Oregon, growing in various locations across the state. While certain species have a limited natural range extending into Oregon, many of the towering sequoia trees seen today are the result of intentional planting. Their presence adds a distinct, majestic character to Oregon’s diverse landscapes, inviting observation and appreciation.
Sequoia Species in Oregon
Two primary types of sequoias are commonly referenced: the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The Coast Redwood is native to a narrow strip of land along the Pacific Coast, extending from central California into the southwestern corner of Oregon. This species thrives in the moist, foggy conditions prevalent in its natural habitat, reaching impressive heights. Coast Redwoods are distinguished by their needle-like leaves, arranged flatly in two ranks, and relatively small, egg-shaped cones, typically 0.8 to 1 inch long. They also possess a unique ability to sprout new growth from their stumps after damage, aiding their regeneration.
The Giant Sequoia, on the other hand, is native exclusively to the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and is not indigenous to Oregon. Its presence in Oregon is due to extensive cultivation and planting over many decades. Giant Sequoias are recognized for their immense trunk diameter and overall mass, rather than extreme height, though they can still grow over 300 feet tall. Their leaves are scale-like, sharp, and blue-green, spiraling around the branchlets, and their woody cones are larger, measuring between 1.97 to 3.54 inches long.
A third species, the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), also falls within the broader redwood family and can be found planted in Oregon, though it is native to China. Unlike the evergreen Coast and Giant Sequoias, the Dawn Redwood is deciduous, with its leaves turning golden yellow and dropping in the fall. While all three share a reddish-brown bark, their distinct characteristics allow for differentiation.
Notable Locations and Plantings
Oregon is home to numerous impressive sequoia plantings, offering opportunities to see these trees firsthand. Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum features a collection of all three redwood species: Coast Redwood, Giant Sequoia, and Dawn Redwood, with early plantings dating back to 1931 and 1933. The arboretum’s Redwood Deck provides an excellent viewing area for these majestic trees.
University campuses also showcase notable sequoias. Oregon State University in Corvallis has several large Giant Sequoias, some of which were planted before 1926. Nearby, Peavy Arboretum also contains a thick grove of Giant Sequoias and Coast Redwoods along its Sequoia Trail. The University of Oregon in Eugene has both Giant Sequoias and Coast Redwoods on its grounds, including a Giant Sequoia that lost its top in a 1962 storm. Willamette University in Salem is known for its “Star Trees,” a group of five Giant Sequoias planted in 1942, which are decorated with lights during the holiday season.
Beyond campuses, individual plantings and small groves are dispersed throughout the state. In Salem, the tiny Waldo Park is famous for preserving a single Giant Sequoia planted in 1872, reportedly by a traveling salesman. Forest Grove is particularly noted for its many Giant Sequoia plantings, many originating from John Ramsey Porter’s nursery in the 1870s. Other significant locations include the Washington County Courthouse in Hillsboro, which features impressive Giant Sequoias, and the Captain George Flavel House in Astoria, where a Giant Sequoia was planted around 1890. In Southern Oregon, Grants Pass has Coast Redwoods at Martin Park, and the Oatfield Ridge area in Clackamas County boasts many notable Giant Sequoias, with plantings beginning in the 1890s.