California is home to two of the world’s most impressive tree species: the coast redwood and the giant sequoia. These towering giants often spark curiosity about which one holds the title for being the “bigger” tree. Their grandeur is expressed in different ways, leading to distinct claims of size. Understanding what “bigger” means is key to comparing them. It can refer to height, measuring vertical reach, or volume, quantifying the total wood in the trunk and branches. Different species excel in one of these metrics, making direct comparisons complex without clarifying the measurement used.
Coast Redwood: Champion of Height
The coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, is the tallest living organism on Earth. These trees reach extraordinary heights, often appearing slender. Hyperion, located in Redwood National Park, holds the current world record for height, measuring 116.07 meters (380.8 feet) tall as of 2019.
Coast redwoods typically exhibit a conical crown and can grow rapidly, sometimes adding 0.6 to 0.9 meters (2 to 3 feet) in height annually. Other tall examples, such as Helios and Icarus, also reside within Redwood National Park.
Giant Sequoia: Champion of Mass
In contrast, the giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, is the most massive individual tree in the world by wood volume. While not as tall as coast redwoods, their trunks are significantly wider and contain immense timber. The General Sherman Tree, found in Sequoia National Park, is the largest known living single-stem tree by volume.
It has an estimated bole volume of 1,487 cubic meters (52,513 cubic feet). Its base circumference measures about 31.3 meters (102.6 feet), and it stands roughly 83.8 meters (275 feet) tall. Giant sequoias are characterized by their thick, reddish-brown, fibrous bark, which can be up to 90 centimeters (3 feet) thick at the base.
Distinguishing Features and Habitats
Coast redwoods and giant sequoias have several distinct features and occupy different natural habitats. Their bark differs: coast redwoods have reddish-brown bark that is fibrous, soft, and spongy, reaching up to 35 centimeters (1.15 feet) thick. Giant sequoias also have reddish-brown, fibrous bark, but it is typically much thicker and more deeply furrowed.
Their foliage also varies. Coast redwoods have flat, needle-like leaves, about 15 to 25 millimeters (5/8 to 1 inch) long, arranged in two distinct rows, creating a feathery appearance. Giant sequoia needles are bluish-green, smaller, scale-like, and awl-shaped, measuring 3 to 6 millimeters (1/8 to 1/4 inch) long, pressed closely against the branches.
The cones of coast redwoods are relatively small and ovoid, typically 15 to 32 millimeters (9/16 to 1 1/4 inches) long. Giant sequoia cones are larger and woody, generally measuring 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long.
The natural ranges of these two species are geographically separate. Coast redwoods thrive in a narrow coastal strip from central California to southern Oregon, typically within 48 kilometers (30 miles) of the Pacific Ocean. They rely on the maritime climate, including summer fog, for moisture. In contrast, giant sequoias are found exclusively on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, in scattered groves at higher elevations, ranging from 1,400 to 2,150 meters (4,600 to 7,050 feet).