How Old Can a Redwood Tree Grow?

Sierra Redwoods

• The specific age range of a redwood tree is dependent on the species. The Sierra redwood (Sequoia gigantea) is considered to be not only the longest-living tree in the world, but also the longest-living thing in the world, surpassing any other plant or organism. Scientists have recorded many Sierra redwoods that they estimate to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, with a few others discovered to be much older, in the range of 3,000 to 4,000 years of age.

Age

• Yosemite National Park's "Grizzly Giant" and Sequoia National Park's "General Sherman" and the "President" are routinely accepted as the oldest-living Sierra redwoods in existence, with the "Grizzly Giant" believed to possess the most seniority of the three. Redwoods live so long and grow so tall due to the large amount of precipitation the area receives each year, typically between 60 and 140 inches. The rich soil of their geographic location and an average temperature range between 45 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit both provide an ideal, nurturing environment.

The Oldest

• The "Grizzly Giant" -- with a base trunk diameter of 96.5 feet -- is estimated to be approximately 3,800 years old and reaches 209 feet into the sky. The first limb of the tree is 95 feet from the ground and has a circumference of 6 feet. The Grizzly Giant's estimated age of 3,800 years is based on a comparison of its size with similar trees that have fallen, making it easier to count the number of rings in the trunk, the method that is used to calculate the age of a tree.

Coastal Redwoods

• The coastal redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) is also exceptionally long-lived, occasionally surviving to an age of 2,000 years. However, attainment of this age is relatively rare, with most coastal redwoods thriving to an age of between 800 and 1,500 years old, a number that is still exemplary. The tree is also the tallest plant species in the world, growing to an average height of between 280 and 325 feet, with some measuring in excess of 360 feet.