Giant Sequoia — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Sequoiadendron giganteum |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 21–60 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 12.8–22.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 1095–3650 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 1219.2–2438.4 |
| Mature height (cm) | 3048–9144 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 1219.2–2438.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 5–8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Plant seeds or container-grown trees in spring in well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral, deep, fertile to average loamy soil in full sun; giant sequoia is the largest living thing on Earth by volume — the named individuals in Sequoia National Park include General Sherman (at 52,500 cubic feet the largest), General Grant, and many other titans. Native to a narrow band of the western Sierra Nevada of California at 4,000–8,000 feet elevation, where it grows in moist, deep soils fed by snowmelt. The reddish-brown, deeply furrowed, fire-resistant bark (up to 3 feet thick on old trees) is one of the tree's most distinctive features. Seeds are tiny (1/4 inch long) but grow surprisingly rapidly for such a massive tree. Young trees are surprisingly suitable for large-property planting in zones 5–8 where it can reach impressive size within decades. The round, egg-shaped cones are only 2–3 inches long — remarkably small for the world's largest tree. A deeply awe-inspiring species worthy of every large garden.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0