Sequoia sempervirens · Cupressaceae (cypress family)
The coast redwood is the tallest living thing on the planet. These giants rise from a narrow strip of fog-drenched coastline and can live for two thousand years.
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Sequoia sempervirens |
| Family | Cupressaceae (cypress family) |
| Native range | Coastal northern California and southwest Oregon, USA |
| Habitat | Foggy coastal valleys and river flats |
| Typical height | 60–100 m (record ~116 m) |
| Lifespan | Often 1,200–2,000+ years |
| IUCN status | Endangered (EN) |
Overview
Coast redwoods grow only in a thin band along the Pacific coast, roughly 750 km long and rarely more than 60 km inland. Summer fog is key: the trees capture moisture from the air through their needles, helping them survive dry summers.
The tallest known individual, named Hyperion, measures about 116 m — taller than a 30-storey building.
How to identify it
Look for thick, fibrous, reddish-brown bark up to 30 cm deep, flat needle-like leaves arranged in two rows, and small, olive-sized cones. Young trees often sprout in rings around old stumps, known as “fairy rings”.
Ecology
Thick, tannin-rich bark protects redwoods from fire, insects and rot. Their high canopy hosts whole communities of ferns, lichens and even salamanders that may never touch the ground. Redwood forests store more carbon per hectare than almost any other forest type.
Conservation
About 95% of the original old-growth redwood forest was logged. Today the remaining groves are protected in places like Redwood National and State Parks, and the species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
