Family: Cupressaceae
Scientific name: Sequoiadendron giganteum
Common name: Giant redwood
Origin: Sierra Nevada (United States)
The Giant redwood is the most massive organism on earth. The heaviest individual 'General Sherman' is 83 meters high, has a circumference of 31 meters, weighs 2000 tons and is 2500 years old. The trees have a very thick bark that protects them from forest fires. Before the ice age the giant redwoods also occurred in Europe, but nowadays they can only be found in the Sequoia National Park in California. They are hardy and can be grown in temperate climates.
Also available in the
North America seed package!
Sowing description: In general the seeds don’t germinate easily, but it’s definitely worth to give it a try. For the best result, it’s best to put the seeds away for 8 weeks in the fridge, after which they can be sown in sowing mix. Cover the seeds lightly with soil or sand, and let the seeds germinate at room temperature. Make sure the soil is constantly moist and put it in a bright stand without direct sunlight.
Sowing time: November – june
Difficulty: Challenging
Minimum temperature: -15 degrees Celcius
Photo 2: JalaIV via Wikipedia
Photo 4: Steve Greaves