Giant Redwood 60/80cm (7L)

Giant Redwood – Sequoiadendron giganteum is one of the most impressive conifers you can plant, and this specimen is supplied at 60/80cm tall in a 7L container, already showing the dense, blue-green juvenile foliage that gives young trees their soft, feathery outline. Native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California, it is the most massive tree on earth by volume, and mature specimens planted across estates and parklands since the Victorian era show just how well it settles into the British climate.

The foliage is scale-like and awl-shaped, pressed close to the shoot in overlapping spirals, and carries a slightly resinous scent when brushed or crushed. Colour ranges from grey-green to a soft blue-green, holding well through winter. As the tree matures, the trunk develops deeply furrowed, spongy, cinnamon-red bark that can reach considerable thickness and is remarkably fire-resistant. Small woody cones, around 5/8cm long, appear on established trees and can remain on the branches for many years.

Growth is conical and strongly upright, with a straight central leader and branches that sweep gently downwards at the tips. In good conditions young trees put on substantial growth each year, making this a rewarding choice for anyone planting with the long view in mind. It suits large gardens, parkland, arboreta, estate avenues and memorial planting, where there is genuine space for a tree of real scale. It is not a tree for a small plot or for planting close to buildings, drains or boundaries.

Giant Redwood tolerates wind once rooted, copes with cold winters, and is generally untroubled by pests. It prefers an open, sunny site with moisture at the roots but good drainage beneath.

Care Guide

Plant between October and March while the ground is workable, avoiding waterlogged or frozen conditions. Choose a position in full sun or very light shade, sheltered from harsh, drying easterly winds in the first few seasons. Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball but no deeper, loosen the base and sides, and set the tree at the same depth it sat in the pot. Backfill with the excavated soil mixed with well-rotted organic matter, firm gently and water in thoroughly.

Deep, moisture-retentive loam gives the best results, though most soils are suitable provided they do not sit wet in winter. Chalk and very thin, dry soils will limit growth. Mulch with 5/8cm of bark or composted material each spring, keeping it clear of the trunk, to conserve moisture and suppress competing grass.

Water generously through the first two or three summers, particularly during dry spells from June to August, giving a thorough soak rather than frequent light watering. A balanced slow-release feed in early spring supports establishment on poorer ground.

Pruning is rarely needed and is best avoided; the natural form is the tree’s greatest asset. Remove only dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter. Stake young trees low and loosely for the first two years, checking ties annually so they do not cut into the expanding trunk.

Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height
More than 50 years

Ultimate spread
More than 8 metres

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.