giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Giant sequoia is an enormous conifer of small natural distribution. It occurs in central California, along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada range. In terms of volume, giant sequoia is the world's largest tree.
Giant sequoia is used for lumber, veneer, plywood, fence posts, grape stakes, shingles, patio furniture, and pencils.
Chickaree, or Douglas squirrel eats the green scales of young cones extensively. Cavity nesting birds often live within giant sequoias.
Giant sequoia is shade intolerant and requires clearcut or seed-tree methods for successful regeneration.
Fun facts
Sequoias are the largest living organisms on earth. Some individuals are estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old. They are virtually free of any insect pests or diseases. The General Sherman tree is the largest living sequoia (275 feet tall, 32 feet in diameter). A single branch on this tree is over 7 feet in diameter! Sequoia also makes a fine ornamental tree with a dense, narrow, almost perfectly symmetrical conical crown.Sequoiadendron
from sequoia and Greek "dendron" (tree).
giganteum
huge.
2004 Virginia
Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming
by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen,
Guy Phillips, or Andrew
S. Meeks.
questions, comments, and criticisms: email John.Peterson@vt.edu