Giant
Sequoia - Sequoiadendron Giganteum page
2
Flowering and
Fruiting
Flowering and fruiting of the giant
sequoia - both male and female (monoecious) cone buds form on
the same tree during late summer. Egg-shaped mature cones
develop at the end of the second growing season. Each cone is 5
to 9cm / 2.0 to 3.5-inches long with 30-50 spirally arranged
scales, with several seeds on each scale. The seed is dark
brown, 4-5mm / 0.16-0.2-inches long and 1mm / 0.04-inch across,
with a 1mm / 0.04-inch yellow-brown wing along each side. Some
seeds eject when the cones shrink during hot weather in late
summer, but fire or heat damaged cones dry out and release the
majority of seed.
Cone
Production
Cones produce an average of 200
seeds each. A mature giant sequoia produces an average of 1,500
new cones each year. Exceptional years when soil moisture is
good can produce 20,000 cones on a large tree. Excellent
growing conditions result in a greater yield of viable seeds.
The upper third of the crown normally bears at least two-thirds
of the cones. Mature trees having extended cone retention may
hold on to 10,000 to 30,000 cones at any given time, two-thirds
of which may be green and closed with the remainder opened,
brown and mainly seedless.
Worldwide
Distribution
The Giant Sequoia is one of the most highly valued tree species
of North America. Within its natural range it is valued
principally for esthetic and scientific objectives. Outside its
natural range, both in the United States and in many other
countries, giant sequoia is highly regarded as an ornamental
tree. The species grows successfully in most of western and
southern Europe, Continental Europe and the British Isles, the
Pacific Northwest of North America, north to southwest British
Columbia, southeast Australia, New Zealand and central-southern
Chile.
Timber and its
Uses
It could be a major timber-producing
species but mature trees are fibrous and brittle and although
highly resistant to decay are not regarded as suitable for
construction. Immature trees being less brittle have tested to
be a very high-yielding timber crop. Logging in the late
nineteenth to early twentieth century made minimal commercial
benefit. There is also interest from entrepreneurs in utilizing
Giant Sequoias in Christmas tree plantations. Tourism plays a
major role in the commercial market drawing people to these
natural wonders of the world. The USA has national parks,
tourist and visitor centers specifically for the Giant Sequoia
experience. Famous places include Sequoia National Park, Kings
Canyon National Park, and Giant Sequoia National Monument in
the southern Sierra Nevada.
 To Giant Sequoia
Page 1
Giant Sequioa - Sequoiadendron
Giganteum
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