California’s redwoods and sequoias are celebrated for their immense size. While both are members of the same subfamily, Sequoioideae, the Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia are distinct species with unique characteristics, particularly concerning their impressive dimensions.
Giant Sequoias
Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are renowned for their enormous trunks and sheer wood volume, making them the most massive individual trees globally. They typically grow to an average height of 50 to 85 meters (164-279 feet) with trunk diameters ranging from 6 to 8 meters (20-26 feet). The largest known specimen, the General Sherman Tree, stands at approximately 83 meters (275 feet) tall and boasts an estimated volume of over 1,486 cubic meters (52,500 cubic feet).
Their substantial girth is a defining feature, often maintaining a large diameter far up the trunk due to a slight taper. Giant Sequoias are native to scattered groves along the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. They thrive at elevations generally between 1,400 and 2,150 meters (4,600-7,050 feet), in a humid climate characterized by dry summers and snowy winters. Their adaptation to fire, with thick, fire-resistant bark, also contributes to their long lives and immense growth.
Coast Redwoods
Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are known for their extraordinary height, holding the record as the tallest living trees on Earth. They typically reach heights between 60 and 100 meters (200-330 feet), with some exceeding 110 meters (360 feet). The current tallest known tree, Hyperion, is a Coast Redwood standing at 115.9 meters (380.1 feet) tall.
Their trunks, while impressive, are generally more slender than those of Giant Sequoias, with diameters reaching up to 9 meters (30 feet). Coast Redwoods flourish in a narrow coastal strip extending from southwestern Oregon to central California, where they benefit from the moist, mild maritime climate and frequent summer fog. This fog provides crucial moisture during dry summer months, allowing them to achieve their towering stature.
The Verdict: Comparing Their Size
The Coast Redwood holds the record for height, while the Giant Sequoia is recognized for its overall mass and volume. Coast Redwoods, like Hyperion, achieve unparalleled vertical growth, often reaching well over 100 meters (328 feet).
Conversely, Giant Sequoias, exemplified by the General Sherman Tree, possess the greatest trunk diameter and wood volume. Their columnar trunks maintain a large girth high up, contributing significantly to their immense bulk. While some Giant Sequoias can also be very tall, reaching over 90 meters (300 feet), their defining characteristic is their incredible volume rather than extreme height.
Distinguishing Features Beyond Size
Beyond their size differences, Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias possess several other unique features. Their foliage differs: Giant Sequoias have short, blue-green, scale-like or awl-shaped needles that lie close to the branches. Coast Redwoods feature flat, needle-like leaves arranged in feathery sprays, often with two white bands on their underside.
Their bark also presents distinct textures. Both have reddish-brown bark, but the Giant Sequoia’s bark can be exceptionally thick, up to 90 centimeters (3 feet) at the base, and is notably fibrous, furrowed, and spongy. The Coast Redwood’s bark is also thick, up to 35 centimeters (1.15 feet), but it tends to be rougher and more deeply furrowed. Cone size is another differentiator, with Giant Sequoia cones being small and egg-shaped, while Coast Redwood cones are even smaller. Both species are long-lived, with Coast Redwoods living 1,200 to 2,200 years or more, and Giant Sequoias living over 3,000 years.