Living Beings
    Source-identified Sequoia sempervirens; Documentary organism photograph; source identification retained. Framed for display
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    Sequoia sempervirens Big Basin Redwoods State Park 1.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph; source identification retained. Brian Gratwicke from DC, USA · CC BY 2.0

    Field guide · species

    Coast Redwood

    Sequoia sempervirens (D.Don) Endl., 1847

    What does the authority mean?

    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    ViridiplantaePinopsidaCupressalesCupressaceae

    The coast redwood is an evergreen conifer of the Pacific coast of North America. Its forests develop in a moist coastal climate where winter rain and summer fog help limit water stress.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomViridiplantae
    4. PhylumStreptophyta
    5. ClassPinopsida
    6. OrderCupressales
    7. FamilyCupressaceae
    8. GenusSequoia
    9. SpeciesSequoia sempervirens
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Viridiplantae kingdom
    4. Streptophyta phylum
    5. Streptophytina subphylum
    6. Embryophyta clade
    7. Tracheophyta clade
    8. Euphyllophyta clade
    9. Spermatophyta clade
    10. Acrogymnospermae clade
    11. Pinopsida class
    12. Pinidae subclass
    13. Conifers II clade
    14. Cupressales order
    15. Cupressaceae family
    16. Sequoia genus
    17. Sequoia sempervirens species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Structure and identification

    A tall trunk bears fibrous reddish bark and a crown of needle-like foliage. Small woody cones distinguish it as a seed-bearing conifer rather than a flowering tree.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Sheltered valleys, stream corridors and moist coastal slopes support redwood forest. Site moisture strongly influences growth.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Nutrition and metabolism

    Foliage captures light for photosynthesis. Roots draw water and dissolved nutrients from the soil.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Reproduction and life cycle

    Seeds released from cones can establish seedlings. New shoots can also arise from the root crown or dormant buds, so regeneration is not limited to seeds.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    Its natural range follows coastal northern and central California into southwestern Oregon. Planted redwoods occur well outside that range.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Ecological role

    Large living trees and fallen wood create persistent forest structure and varied habitats.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Distinctive adaptations

    Thick bark and the ability to sprout can aid survival or recovery after disturbance. These traits do not make redwoods immune to severe fire.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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