The Redwood Tree is one of the most widely recognizable symbols of California’s northern coast, known not only for its exquisite beauty but its incredible height. Millions visit California and take tours of the many state parks that withhold these majestic creations of nature. Even recently in the major motion picture Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Redwoods were featured throughout the film and at the very climax towering over the forest giving a breathtaking view of the bay area.
Below is a little history of the Redwood Tree throughout the years.
A relative of the famous sequoia, the coastal redwood grows to spectacular heights, making it the tallest tree on earth, with heights of 250 feet being fairly commonplace and 350 feet not unheard of. This redwood is only recognized for its height, however, as it has substantially less girth than the sequoia, and it is narrow instead of massive at the base. Coastal redwoods have been known to live as long as 2,000 years, although a life of around 500 years is more common. The height of a tree does not have a direct correlation to the tree’s life, as one might imagine. One of the major reasons for the longevity of these trees is their growth pattern. The trees grow close to each other, interweaving their root structures. This explains why redwoods rarely fall, even though they have a surprisingly shallow root system for such tall trees. Redwoods are also recognized for their burls. When damaged, a coastal redwood will grow a lumpy, callous-like formation of wood over the injury, creating a knot or burl.
The coast redwood, the tallest tree on earth, is preserved on thousands of acres of old growth forest in California’s Redwood National and State Parks. The park complex is actually composed of the Redwood National Park, one of America’s smaller national parks, and three state parks in California and Oregon, which are home to more than 40 percent of the world’s old-growth redwood trees.
We are dedicated in making sure that Redwood can be enjoyed by generations to come. Redwood is harvested from sustainably managed California forests, a renewable resource protected by some of the toughest environmental laws in the world. The tag line that we like to use at Redwood Empire is that Redwood is strong, durable, beautiful and completely renewable.