Family: Cupressaceae, Cypress view all from this family

Description One of the world's largest trees with fibrous, reddish-brown trunk much enlarged and buttressed at base, fluted into ridges, and conspicuously narrowed or tapered above; narrow, conical crown of short, stout, horizontal branches reaches nearly to base. Giant trees have tall, bare trunk and irregular, open crown.
Height: 150-250' (46-76 m).
Diameter: 20' (6 m), sometimes larger.
Leaves: evergreen; crowded and overlapping; 1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) long, to 1/2" (12 mm) on leaders. Scalelike; ovate or lance-shaped, sharp-pointed; blue-green with 2 whitish lines.
Bark: reddish-brown, fibrous, very thick, deeply furrowed into scaly ridges.
Twigs: much-branched, slender, drooping; blue-green turning brown.
Cones: 1 3/4-2 3/4" (4.5-7 cm) long; elliptical, reddish-brown; many flat, sharp-pointed cone-scales; maturing in 2 seasons; hanging down at end of leafy twig and remaining attached; 3-9 seeds under cone-scale, light brown, 2-winged, falling gradually.

Habitat Granitic and other rocky soils in scattered groves in moist mountain sites, usually canyons or slopes; in coniferous forests.

Range Western slope of Sierra Nevada, central California; at 4500-7500' (1372-2286 m); rarely at 3000-8900' (914-2713 m).

Discussion This rare species ranks among the world's oldest trees; felled trees show annual rings indicating up to 3200 years of age. Almost all Giant Sequoias are protected in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national parks, in 4 national forests, and in state parks and forests. It is a popular, large ornamental tree in moist, cool temperate climates along the Pacific Coast and around the world. The lumber is no longer used, although many trees were cut and wasted in the early logging days. Seedlings and saplings are killed by forest fires, but the very thick bark of mature trees offers resistance. Douglas squirrels cut and store quantities of mature cones, and sparrows, finches, and chipmunks destroy many seedlings.