# You plant a giant sequoia seed in the backyard in a crowded development. What happens?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 12, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396 "2015-06-12T23:45:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/21 "2015-06-21T00:25:47Z")
> [@JcWoman](#):
>
> Oh, this is interesting. Take a look at this location in google maps, satellite and street view: 4023 E Orangeburg Ave, Modesto
>
> I’m pretty sure this is the house, and that big evergreen tree is in the same spot where I planted the redwood. I can’t quite tell from the photo resolution if it is a redwood. If it is, it’s smaller than I’d expect about 20 years after planting. Although that does kind of back up what Senegoid’s been saying.
Okay, I was in Modesto last week and I checked this out.
First things first: There is no such address as 4023 E Orangeburg. There’s 4021 and next door is 4025, with even-numbered addressed across the street.
I can only see front yards, and trees in the back I can only see if they are tall enough to stick up above the house. **JcWoman** says the tree was by the back fence.
At 4025, there’s such a tree sticking up in the back. I couldn’t get a better look at it, like to be sure if it’s really a redwood.
There are redwood trees in the front yards at 4021 and 4031, and numerous others around the neighborhood. They appear to be smallish ( 15-20 feet up to, I estimate, 50 feet ) and in reasonably good health. Some of the larger of these have somewhat sparse foliage higher up.
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### Author:  [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/22 "2015-06-21T02:02:07Z")
> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> **DinoR** nailed it in one.
>
> A single sequoia doesn’t have much of a chance of maturing - the roots are like those of corn - they need a certain density so all the roots can inter-weave to provide a “foundation” for such a monster tree.
> In the early-mid 80’s an ancient one fell in the park - the root ball was impressive.
Very interesting, do you have any citation related to the root density of corn/sequoia trees mentioned in your statement?
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### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/23 "2015-06-21T04:03:32Z")
Just what the Ranger at Avenue of the Giants (name of location, too lazy to find Park name) had to say.
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### Author:  [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2015, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/24 "2015-06-21T06:36:52Z")
The Avenue of Giants is in the [Humboldt Redwoods State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Redwoods_State_Park).
It’s not entirely clear the OP is referring to the Giant Sequoia (_Sequoiadendron giganteum_) or the Coast Redwood (_Sequoia sempervirens_), and most of the response seems to have focused on the latter, but there are some important differences between the two:
One is that the Giant Sequoia does not grow an extensive network of lateral roots for the first few years of life…
> [@US Forest Service](#):
>
> Rooting Habit- During the first few years, the root system of giant sequoia seedlings consists of a taproot with few laterals-a habit that facilitates survival during dry summers (36). The ratio of root length to shoot height during this period is about 2 to 2.5, with drier sites having higher ratios (17). After 6 to 8 years, lateral root growth predominates, and elongation of the taproot practically stops (36).
(source: [http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics\_manual/Volume\_1/sequoiadendron/giganteum.htm](http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/sequoiadendron/giganteum.htm) )
Giant Sequoias also are fairly intolerant of shade, and sprouting successfully will generally require the advantage of openings in the forest canopy:
> [@US Forest Service](#):
>
> Although conspicuous in late successional communities dominated by California white fir, giant sequoia is not a true climax-stage species, because it fails to reproduce itself successfully in an undisturbed forest. Instead, mature trees are successional relicts because they live for many centuries while continuing to meet their light requirements by virtue of their emergent crowns (16).
>
> If various natural agents of disturbance-especially fire-operated freely, giant sequoia groves would consist of a roughly steady-state mosaic of even-aged groups of trees and shrubs in various stages of succession. The patchy nature of vegetational units would correspond to the pattern of disturbances. In the absence of disturbance, however, successional pathways converge toward a multilayered climax forest of pure California white fir (4). In fact, since the advent of fire suppression, density of California white fir has increased markedly, while densities of early successional stage species have decreased (26).
(same source as above)
Coast Redwoods, on the other hand, will grow a lot of lateral roots immediately, and are very shade tolerant, so a mature stand of Redwoods will have successful recruitment of young Redwoods into the stand even without large disturbances:
> [@US Forest Service](#):
>
> Reaction to Competition- The redwood forest is a climax type. When growing with other species, redwood usually is a dominant tree. Douglas-fir can keep pace with redwood on many sites and occupy dominant and codominant crown positions along with redwood. Redwood has been classed as tolerant or very tolerant, the two highest categories in a scale of five shade tolerance classes. It is probably most accurately classed as very tolerant of shade in most situations.
>
> Redwood stands are dense. At 60 years, redwood may have a basal area of more than 126 m²/ha (550 ft²/acre) on the best sites (32). Heavy stocking is desirable because the relatively high tolerance permits land to support a large number of dominant and codominant trees per unit area.
(source: [http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics\_manual/Volume\_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm](http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm) )
Incidentally, to the OP’s question about growing a (Coast?) Redwood in a suburban development - there’s a Coast Redwood 20 yards from my porch, on its own (no other Redwoods around for at least 100 yards,) in a pretty medium-density suburban area with two apartment buildings within 50 yards, and another two houses including mine within 30 yards. ETA: Of course, it doesn’t hurt that my neighborhood is within the natural range of the Coast Redwood.
Helpful hints on growing your own Coast Redwood can be found here: [http://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-coastal-redwood-24368.html](http://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-coastal-redwood-24368.html)
Couldn’t find something similar for the Giant Sequoia, but here’s a question about that and the answer provided (for what it’s worth) from a gardening advice site:
[http://www.gardensalive.com/product/4319/you\_bet\_your\_garden](http://www.gardensalive.com/product/4319/you_bet_your_garden)
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### Author:  [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/25 "2015-06-22T19:30:40Z")
I got the seedling from the California Department of Forestry at the state fair, so it’s very possible not a giant sequoia but a coast redwood. I don’t remember anymore it was so long ago.
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### Author:  [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/26 "2015-06-22T20:09:11Z")
[That](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4023+E+Orangeburg+Ave,+Modesto,+CA+95355/@37.663896,-120.919902,3a,75y,339.14h,83.18t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sH-_PhaMRDvYtUzsIf2IQ_g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DH-_PhaMRDvYtUzsIf2IQ_g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D299.95282%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x809055bffdfd5407:0x81d03188c419b2e) looks like a redwood or some type of cedar.
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### Author:  [@TallTrees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TallTrees)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/27 "2015-06-23T03:36:42Z")
Not sure what the linked to Street View image refers to, but the 3 pointy things along the driveway and behind the house are Cypress trees of some kind. I’m not sure the tree to the left of the three pointy spires behind the house is a redwood - as I’m currently looking out my window at my neighbor’s overgrown and too high coastal redwood trees, the branches point mostly higher than horizontal, not down or out.
My former neighbor was a jerk - he planted a few “for screening” about 30 years ago. He’s gone, they’re still here, and perhaps 2x the height of his two story house. Fortunately for me, they’re downhill and to the northwest of my house, so they don’t inconvenience me at all. I’m at about the southernmost point where the coastal redwood can be found or planted. Sequoias are related but different, they’re the inland version.
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### Author:  [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/28 "2015-06-23T14:04:30Z")
> [@TallTrees](#):
>
> Not sure what the linked to Street View image refers to, but the 3 pointy things along the driveway and behind the house are Cypress trees of some kind. I’m not sure the tree to the left of the three pointy spires behind the house is a redwood - as I’m currently looking out my window at my neighbor’s overgrown and too high coastal redwood trees, the branches point mostly higher than horizontal, not down or out.
> …
That’s why I said “spruce” upthread. I see coast redwoods practically every weekend hiking, and those branches don’t look right. They are also spreading out close to the ground, which redwood trees don’t generally do. Of course, they may grow differently in someone’s yard than in the forest where they have to reach upwards to get light, and the OP DID say they planted a redwood or giant sequoia on that spot.
The pointy things are [Italian Cypress](http://perfect-plants.com/product/italian-cypress/) or a close relative. Very common landscape tree. Also stupid looking, IMO, but to each their own.
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### Author:  [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/29 "2015-06-23T20:26:24Z")
> [@TallTrees](#):
>
> Not sure what the linked to Street View image refers to, but the 3 pointy things along the driveway and behind the house are Cypress trees of some kind. I’m not sure the tree to the left of the three pointy spires behind the house is a redwood - as I’m currently looking out my window at my neighbor’s overgrown and too high coastal redwood trees, the branches point mostly higher than horizontal, not down or out.
Sorry, I thought is was clear I wasn’t talking about the landscaping cypress trees. I was thinking the tree in the center was incense cedar, red cedar or coastal redwood. It is certainly not a spruce.
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### Author:  [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/30 "2015-06-23T21:46:53Z")
Dawn Redwoods apparently love Michigan, people started planting them after figuring out they were native here millions of years ago.
E.T.A Hehe Dawn Redwoods sounds like a stripper name.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/31 "2015-06-24T02:53:59Z")
I happened to browse through a nursery today. I saw young trees there labeled “Sequoia aptos”.
Anybody know what those are?
Okkay, I just googled that for me. Apparently it’s a cultivated variety of coast redwood, popular for landscaping. Here, for example, [is a page about them](http://homeguides.sfgate.com/average-height-aptos-blue-tree-76912.html).
BTW, have you ever taken a good close look at the redwood needles? The back side of each needle has a silver stripe down the center. Redwoods and Douglas Fir commonly share space in the same forests, and can be hard to tell apart if you don’t know the distinguishing features to look for. The silver stripe on redwood needles in one such feature. Douglas Fir needles don’t have that. (If you can find some cones to look that, those are totally different.)
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### Author:  [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/32 "2015-06-25T20:49:50Z")
Someone did this 30+ years ago near where I live. [This is the result.](https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-39.532837,176.844379,3a,75y,254.33h,103.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stg133Cx6wKIPUNpAvGe-xg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dtg133Cx6wKIPUNpAvGe-xg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D101.92066%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en) I think it’s a coastal redwood, but I’m not entirely sure. It certainly looks impressive though.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/33 "2015-06-26T05:30:28Z")
[THIS is what happens](https://lifessweetbittersurprises.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/img_0739.jpg) when you plant too big a tree (or several) on too small a planet.
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### Author:  [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-plant-a-giant-sequoia-seed-in-the-backyard-in-a-crowded-development-what-happens/722396/34 "2015-06-26T14:47:50Z")
> [@lisiate](#):
>
> Someone did this 30+ years ago near where I live. [This is the result.](https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-39.532837,176.844379,3a,75y,254.33h,103.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stg133Cx6wKIPUNpAvGe-xg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dtg133Cx6wKIPUNpAvGe-xg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D101.92066%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en) I think it’s a coastal redwood, but I’m not entirely sure. It certainly looks impressive though.
Heh, I LOVE that! At the risk of sounding like a douchebag, that’s kind of what I was hoping my tree would turn into. 😃
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