redwood needles cones

More  folks than I realized have wondered if Coast Redwoods can grow without fog. The photo below (larger image at bottom) proves that Sequoia sempervirens, Coast Redwood, can flourish without fog. It’s an evident fact that Coast Redwood can grow beautifully without needing to rely on fog in the growing season.

I expected more people to know this. But it stands to reason that millions of people do not know tree identification, or pay close attention to what grows where, or what’s what in the landscape, or on rural properties. In fact … it’s fairly common for people to point at various cones on the ground and call them “Pine cones”. If it’s a Sitka Spruce cone, some call it a “Pine cone”. If it’s a Douglas Fir cone, some call it a “Pine Cone”.

What prompted this post, was a residence I assumed care for this year, in West Linn, Oregon. I was admiring how much the young Coast Redwoods  had grown after a generous addition of bark mulch this year. Admitted .. they are on drip irrigation. But they reminded me of other Sequoia sempervirens like the one in Portland (foliage shown below), which are not irrigated. And look how lovely the green foliage is. There are plenty of Coast Redwood in northern Oregon, inland, which are not irrigated, that get no appreciable fog in the growing season. And northern Oregon is noted for very little rain in July, August, and most of September.

There are even Coast Redwood in Medford, Oregon, where annual rainfall is 19 inches per year, half that of Portland. There is also Coast Redwood near Kerby and Cave Junction, Oregon too: planted, but growing. So the question with fog and Coast Redwoods, is probably best posed as to whether naturalization of  “Old Growth” is dependent on fog. … and how much total  height is dependent on fog? Plus … to what degree is germination + naturalization dependent on fog? Because there is no question whether Coast Redwood can grow without fog. Just drive around some inland and take a look.

I’m most intrigued by what plays the most important role for Coast Redwood seed germination and survival of seedlings in forest outside urban landscapes. Why is it they germinate and continue to grow in forests of northern California and Southern Oregon. Why is it that is does not happen inland, even though that inland is so close to the natural range of that species?  Is the role of fog essential for that? And if the role of fog is not essential, then what exactly is the factor that allows these trees to continue there?

Coast Redwood Twig Cones

For those who may not know about it … New Zealand has a nice forest of Coast Redwood too. Planted … but it’s there.

The Whakarewarewa Forest

See http://www.redwoods.co.nz to read more about New Zealand’s Coast Redwood Forest.