A Guide to Giant Redwood Trees

Giant redwoods

 

California’s giant redwood trees are a sight to be seen, growing to a height of more than 300 feet and a width of more than 20 feet. California’s coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) thrive on the North Coast of California; the only place in the world that provides the environment they need to grow. The coast redwood grows from a seed that is approximately the size of a tomato. Research has shown that the giant redwoods found today are relatives of ones that grew during the time of the dinosaurs.

Giant redwoods grow in a range of a few hundred miles on the North Coast of California. The environment provides the trees with moist, cool air from the Pacific ocean. This keeps the trees damp continually, even during times of drought. Fog also provides moisture for the redwoods. The North Coast often has a thick layer of fog that is drawn in from the ocean when temperatures rise inland. It has been determined that the redwoods get approximately 40% of their moisture from fog. How redwoods grow as tall as they do remains a mystery but there are several theories as to their size. The trees often reach an age of at least 600 years but can live for approximately two thousand years.

Giant redwoods are naturally resistant to enemies such as fire and insects. Diseases are also relatively unknown in giant redwoods due to the tannin content of the wood. The trees also have thick bark and foliage which is so high above the ground that it is protected from most fires. Redwoods, unlike other trees, are able to regenerate which aids in their survival. While other trees must rely solely on sexual reproduction, new redwoods can actually sprout from stumps and the root systems of downed trees. Knotty, hard growths, known as basal burls, form on living trees from dormant seedlings, and can sprout a new tree when the main trunk sustains damage due to cutting, fire, or toppling.

In addition to giant redwoods being hardy, their environment also influences their health. The giant redwood habitat features complex soils that contribute to the growth of trees as well as fungi, and greenery. Healthy redwood forests usually contain many other types of trees including western hemlocks, Douglas firs, madrones, and more.

Redwood forests are home to many different shrubs such as blackberry, evergreen huckleberry and more. California rhododendrons are one of the most famous species to call redwood forests home. During the Spring, the rhododendrons bloom into beautiful pink and purple flowers, creating an amazing sight amongst the trees.

Windthrow is one of the most common causes of death for mature redwood trees, in addition to logging. Windthrow occurs due to the fact that redwood trees have no taproot, meaning that the roots only go down about 10 feet before spreading outward. The biggest redwoods move hundreds of gallons of water each day along their trunks.

Additional Websites on Redwood Trees

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