Giant Sequoia - Sequoiadendron
Giganteum
Description and Size
Giant
Sequoia discovered in the mid-nineteenth century hold title to being the most magnificent tree in  the world with an imposing stature making them the world's biggest tree by
volume, growing to an average height of 68m / 215ft and 6m / 19.5ft in diameter. Largest recorded trees have
grown to 93.6m / 307ft tall and 8.85m / 29ft diameter. The longest-lived Giant Sequoia had a ring count
indicating it was 3,200 years old. The species is evergreen and belongs to the family Cupressaceae and is also
know as Sierra Redwood, Wellingtonia, Giant Redwood or Big Tree. The bark is fibrous, furrowed and up to 60cm
/ 2ft thick at the base of the columnar trunk and provides excellent fire protection. The green leaves are
awl-shaped, 3-6mm /0.12-0.24-inches and long grow spirally along shoots.
Distribution in U.S.
Evergreen Giant Sequoia groves have a natural distribution wholly within Sierra Nevada mixed conifer type forests
in central California, extending along the west slope. Groves distinguish themselves from similar habitats only by
the presence of the giant sequoia itself with no other species restricted to the groves. California White Fir
(Abies Concolor var. Lowiana) typically dominates the groves based on canopy coverage or density. The giant sequoia
does not grow anywhere in a pure stand, although a few small areas approach this condition.
Groves
Approximately 75 groves exist throughout
the natural range, forming a belt 420Km / 260 miles long and no wider than 24Km / 15 miles. The groves occupy a
total area of 35,607 acres. Stand structure and species abundance vary largely with elevation, latitude, exposure,
soil moisture, and time since fire or other disturbance. Generally, protection of groves from fire has resulted in
ascendancy of California White Fir, reduced regeneration of giant sequoia and pines, and reduced concentration of
shrubs. The age-class distribution of giant sequoia also varies widely among groves. Most groves today, however,
appear to have inadequate young giant sequoias to maintain the present density of mature trees in the future. Giant
sequoia groves regeneration evidently has been declining over a period of 100 to 500 years or more. As the species
has enormous public appeal and a restricted natural range, most groves have protected status.
Habitat
Giant Sequoia Evergreens are found in their preferred habitat of a humid climate with dry summers
and cold winters. Snow between October and April
contributes most of the annual precipitation of 900 to 1400mm / 35 to 55-inches. Maximum temperatures of the
groves are 24° to 29° C / 75° to 84° F. Minimum temperatures vary from 1° to -6° C / 34° to 21° F. Temperature
extremes range from 24° and 40° C / -12° and 104° F.
Growing Conditions
Soils that provide the best growing conditions derive from a variety of rock types with most groves on
granitic-based residual and alluvial loams. Deep well-drained sandy loam with adequate moisture throughout the dry
growing season is critical for establishing the giant sequoia. Soil moisture content provides a major role in the
successful distribution of the species, with the type of soil a minor role as the giant sequoia grows vigorously in
extremes of soils around the world. Soil pH ranges mostly from 5.5 to 7.5, with an average of about 6.5. Grove
elevations range from 1400 to 2000m / 4,590 to 6,560ft in the north and 1700 to 2150m / 5,580 to 7,050ft in
the south. The lowest natural occurrence of the species is 830m / 2,720ft and the highest is 2,700m / 8,860ft.
 To Giant Sequoia Page 2
Giant Sequoia -
Sequoiadendron Giganteum
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