Redwoods outside America Question?

A

AxeKnot

The largest ones can be found in Scotland

The giant sequoia was first brought into cultivation in Scotland in 1853 by Scotsman John D. Matthew, who collected a small quantity of seed in the Calaveras Grove, arriving with it in Scotland in August 1853.

Growth in Scotland is very fast with the tallest tree, at Benmore Botanic Garden in southwest Scotland, reaching 54 m (177 ft) at age 150 years with several others from 50-53 m tall.

Can anyone(MdVaden/Beranek) tell me if 177ft in 150 years is slow compared with the US Redwoods in the Caleveras Grove?

ps The tallest US native conifer in Scotland is a Douglas Fir about 215ft followed closely by a Grand Fir or Abies grandis.

The Benmore Redwood

benmore_alleen.jpg
 
Not sure if I'd call that measurement slow, but seems slower than here.

There's an age at which the height increase rate mellows out - not quite sure. Beranek will probably know for one or two regions.

The Washington County courthouse about 12 miles west of us, has 5 giant sequoia which were planted in 1886 by a man named Porter.

At 120 years of age, they were apparently 150 feet tall
 
This page has info on Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia growth rates (scroll down the page):
Redwood growth and development

Here's a quote from the "Rate of Growth" section:

"Coast redwoods may put on six, eight or even more feet of height in a single season whereas the giant sequoia is more likely to grow about two feet in height per year throughout its first fifty to one hundred years."

So they're saying that a Giant Sequoia in optimal conditions might reach 200 ft. in 100 years. Going by that the tree in Scotland is in the mid-range of the average growth rate, it's doing well considering it's not in its expected habitat.
-moss
 
Moss said it about right.

The most vigorous growth for the coast redwood is to be found on alluvial flood plains. There seedling and sucker growth alike can reach 200 feet in 100 years, easy.

Though here on the coast the introduced gigantium can't match it. Just not their environment.

Even out of it's native environment the numbers you mentioned for the trees in Scotland are pretty good. I'm pleased to hear that they do well there.
 
Just to add to the discussion:
I heard that long ago ancient forests of redwoods and giant sequoias dominated all of the Northern Hemisphere(fossils have been found as far north as Alaska).
As climate changed they receded to their present and respective ranges.
So perhaps a Giant Sequoia in Scotland is not really outside its growth region, especially since they can tolerant the cold better than coast redwoods.

-Diane-
 
Douglas Fir has a fast growth rate in Scotland, in fact all the West North American conifers do well in Scotland, Western Hemlock, Monterey Cypress/Pine grows huge. The main issue with growth rate in Northern Europe is daylight hours in the winter and a shorter summer/growth season than the PNW.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just to add to the discussion:
I heard that long ago ancient forests of redwoods and giant sequoias dominated all of the Northern Hemisphere(fossils have been found as far north as Alaska).
As climate changed they receded to their present and respective ranges.
So perhaps a Giant Sequoia in Scotland is not really outside its growth region, especially since they can tolerant the cold better than coast redwoods.

-Diane-

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Diane, the natural range of the redwoods today is a direct result of climate change. The evidence is irrefutable.

And it is entertaining to think how the recent changes in climate have come about as compared to the major changes in the past.
 
A Sequoiadendron was planted in Oregon by Peter Britt, on the day his son Emil was born, in 1862. Peter was the photographer whose mid 1800's picture of Crater Lake caused such a stir that it was one of the first handful of National Parks designated by President Teddy Roosevelt. That photo was how it became listed as one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.

This land is now the site of the Britt Amphitheater, a popular summer concert theater in a County Park in Jacksonville, about 25 miles north of the California border. Rainfall is only about 25-30 inches per year, and elevation is around 1,000 feet above sea level, if I remember. Time seems to have fuzzed the stats a bit.

About 25 years ago, when I moved there, the Britt Sequoia tree was around 135-140 feet tall. I wonder what the height is now?

Just down the road is a public museum called the Willows Farm, where the Hooker Oak was planted in 1866 by Kit Carson. Kit was a former Pony Express rider and buffalo hunter who travelled the west as a mountain man. The oak seedling came from the original national champion Hooker Oak (Quercus lobata) in Chico, California. It was named after the curator of Kew Gardens. 'Fighting Joe' Hooker was befriended after the Civil War by Colonel Bidwell, manager of Sutters Mill at the time gold was discovered in 1849.

Bidwells mansion, built in the Italian Rennaisance style of architecture in 1865, is now home to a museum on the grounds of the University of California at Chico. A southern Magnolia tree that is 6 feet in diameter sits by the entryway. Bidwell later became U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and his irrigation system formed the foundation of the farming industry.

This photo from the Bidwell website might be a Valley Oak.

labor.jpg


Here's a shot of the Magnolia.

ca4039.jpg
 
interesting. That link gives the circumference of the Britt at 18 feet.

There's a sequoia at a client's home in The Highlands that is 94 yrs old. It is over 30 feet around at ground level, and about 24 at breast height. Prolly 130+ feet tall. (Due to it damaging their garage, and too close to the house, it may be removed at some time.)

The largest one that I've seen, in Wa, in Volunteer Park, is about 150 feet tall, 90-95 feet crown spread, and has an even larger trunk. It hosted the ITCC speed climb in 2002.

While I'm not qualified to judge, I'd not be surprised if sequoia grow faster in our PNW climate than in their native Sierra range...

I know that's not true with redwood.
 
[ QUOTE ]


While I'm not qualified to judge, I'd not be surprised if sequoia grow faster in our PNW climate than in their native Sierra range...

I know that's not true with redwood.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hard to compare the Britt Sequoiadendron to the Pacific NW.

Because it's between Medford's 19 inches of rain per year and Ruch's 27 inches per year.

It's a relatively warm part of Oregon - nothing like the Eugene to Portland area.

Whether it got irrigation or not might be interesting to know. Seems that quite a bit of horticulture history is not known.

I spent parts of a week once trying to figure out the age of a Catalpa at the historic Beekman house there - no photos for that one.

The Britt related stuff is much better documented though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The largest one that I've seen, in Wa, in Volunteer Park, is about 150 feet tall, 90-95 feet crown spread, and has an even larger trunk. It hosted the ITCC speed climb in 2002

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember that one. I had to duck almost the whole way up due to the amount of limbs it had. Fun climb though. I doubt we will ever top that one for height.
 
Ive been a steelers fan since I was a kid watching them in the late 70's.. Sorry Giants...Not...
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