Also called Wellingtonia, Sierra or California Redwood, this is a true giant; ancient ‘monarchs’ have the largest volume and biomass of any plant and are among Earth’s oldest organisms. First documented by John Bidwell (1819-1900) in 1841, the first small seed collection was sent to Britain by John Matthew in 1853 (the year after the Duke of Wellington died, hence the British name); most original trees came from William Lobb’s (1809-1864) larger collection that year.
Its natural range is limited to about 70 stands on montane slopes in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, where it forms relatively pure, awe-inspiring stands. It is very popular as an ornamental in Britain and Ireland, surviving as large specimens in prominent positions on estates from when it was the ultimate Victorian status symbol.
Monoecious, producing seed on a two-year cycle but retaining it for up to 20 years in sealed cones until triggered by stress, especially wildfire. In the Sierra Nevada it usually dominates stands. It withstands extreme wildfire thanks to thick, fibrous, resin-free bark, regenerating from dormant buds; its very durable heartwood lets fire-damaged trees persist. The oldest known specimen exceeds 3,200 years.
Tall (50-80m) with a huge trunk (6-8m diameter), often heavily flared at the base then tapering very gradually. Bark very thick (60cm on old trees), spongy, red-tinged and fibrous. The dense blue-green crown is borne on light, curving branches. Foliage scale-like with fine sharp tips and stomata on both surfaces. Female cones small (4-6cm), globose, green to brown over two years, remaining sealed on the branches.
Thrives in western north-west Europe, where the largest now exceed 50m. Intolerant of sea winds. Grows rapidly (80cm a year). Lower branches die but tend to stay attached, so prune for appearance or timber. Light-demanding and wind-firm thanks to large spreading roots. Isolated trees are often struck by lightning.
In its native range many species associate closely with it: the Douglas Squirrel feeds on its seeds, while longhorn beetles bore into cones on the tree, drying them and releasing seed. Outside its native range it has low biodiversity value.
Classified as Endangered, with fewer than 80,000 living specimens in native California. High-intensity fires, increasingly frequent under a warming climate, kill it, while fire suppression conversely disrupts natural regeneration. Where introduced it is generally free of pests and pathogens.
Its soft timber is red-brown, straight-grained and uniform, naturally durable and suitable for cladding but brittle and fit only for lightweight framing; early Californian loggers found large trees shattered when felled. Younger trees may give less brittle wood, interesting European foresters, but it is rarely available; note that ‘redwood’ sold in Britain is usually pine from Finland, Russia or Sweden.
