Street Trees Through the Seasons – Coast Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood) is in the Taxodiaceae family. It is native to the Pacific coast of California and Oregon, which makes it a surprising street tree in hot, inland Dublin. Several groves are planted close to where I work; some of them seem to be doing quite well, others look unhealthy.

The tree is evergreen, and key diagnostics include foliage sprays of feathery, flat, glossy green, needle-like leaves, arranged in alternate opposite, flat plane along green stems. Inconspicuous male and female flowers occur on the same tree. Cones are brown, oval, ¾ - 1”, with woody scales. Bark is dark brown to reddish, becoming deeply furrowed with age.
 

Sequoia sempervirens - needle shape and habit.

Requires deep watering and tolerates inland heat with water, but does not do well in drought or with heavy alkaline soils.
 

Winter - tall, pyramidal shape contrasts with deciduous branches.	Spring - male and female cones,  and fresh, green branch tips emerge.
Summer - the dense branches provide sidewalk shade, and shelter to birds and squirrels.	Fall - trees are watered during the dry season, but some are looking quite dry.

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