Giant Sequoia Tree A giant of a tree that needs no introduction, the Giant Sequoia was once widespread during the Cretaceous period but now is confined to relatively few spots in California’s Sierra Nevada. It would be cliché to say that encountering a grove of these giants in the wild is a spiritual experience, but indeed there is nothing quite like witnessing an old growth Giant Sequoia. While they are threatened in their native range these days due to climate change and limited habitat, you can help conserve these giants by planting them in your backyard if you have the space. Specimens around Portland that were planted decades ago are now surpassing Douglas Fir in height and their conical juvenile canopy can be seen easily in the tree line throughout the city. Latin Name: Sequoiadendron giganteum Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil. Hardiness: Hardy to -10º F. Size at Maturity: 100-300 ft. USDA Zone: 6
