Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

Cupressaceae · coniferous tree · introduced

Last updated

Coast redwood is the tallest tree species on Earth, native to a narrow coastal strip of northern California and southwestern Oregon. These evergreen conifers reach 300+ feet tall with a narrow, columnar crown and fibrous, reddish bark. The leaves are flat, needle-like, and arranged in two ranks; cones are small and round.

Coast redwoods thrive in coastal conditions with regular fog, high humidity, and cool temperatures. They require deep, well-drained soil and are extremely shade-tolerant in their native habitat. Growth is extremely fast in ideal conditions; outside their native range, they are tender in many regions.

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
60–90 ft
Spread
15–25 ft (in cultivation)
Growth Rate
Fast
Size at 20 yr
50–60 ft
Lifespan
Long-lived

Site Requirements

Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
Soil pH
5.0–7.0
Water
High
Drought Tolerance
Low
Hardiness
Zones 7a–9a

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
february to april
Origin
southwestern Oregon and coastal California
Watch for this season
Botryosphaeria DiebackModerate

Infection Through Wounds

Phytophthora Root RotModerate

Growing Season Stress Expression

Diseases: Regionally Documented (1)

Diseases: Other Associations (2)

Pests: Regionally Documented (2)

Phenological Calendar

View full calendar (6 stages)
Stage Typical Window
New growth flush BBCH 11 Mar 1–Apr 15
Shoot elongation BBCH 31 Apr 15–Jun 30
Cone development BBCH 71 Mar 15–Jun 30
Cone maturity and seed shed BBCH 85 Sep 1–Nov 30
Pollen release BBCH 61 Nov 15–Feb 28
Pollen shed complete BBCH 69 Feb 15–Mar 15
Cultivars (5)
'Adpressa'
Dwarf form; irregular habit; densely twiggy; buds and shoot tips white. Leaves (needles) very densely arranged, oblong-oval, 6–8 mm long, directed forward.
Hardy to USDA Zone 7. Developed before 1867 by André Leroy in Angers, France. Some confusion as to whether ‘Adpressa' and 'Albospica’ are actually different cultivars.
'Albospica'
Compact tree form; new growth is white. Grows about 2 ft per year.
Hardy to USDA Zone 7. Some suggest shearing into a globe shape. Some confusion as to whether ‘Adpressa' and 'Albospica’ are actually different cultivars.
'Kelly's Prostrate'
Low-growing dwarf shrub; all branches horizontal; grows about 6 inches (15 cm) per year; mounds to 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) height. Leaves emerald green.
Hardy to USDA Zone 7. Sun to part shade, well-drained soil.
'Yurok Prince'
Low-growing shrub; horizontal branches; to 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m) high. Leaves similar to species.
Hardy to USDA Zone 7. Origin: seedling collected from roadway shoulder in coastal northern California by homeowners in McMinnville, OR; grew as a persistent shrub refusing to produce a leader. Donated to the American Conifer Society and planted at The Oregon Garden, Silverton, OR (March 2010).
'Aptos Blue'
Pendant branchlets with deep bluish-green needles; pyramidal form; fast-growing but ultimately smaller than species. Furrowed red-brown spongy bark on older specimens. Reaches 50–70 ft tall by 15–40 ft wide at landscape maturity; approximately 25 ft tall after 10 years.
Selected as a seedling in the late 1970s at the Saratoga Horticultural Research Station, University of California. Thrives in coastal climates with high atmospheric moisture. Hardy to USDA Zone 7.
Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.