Sequoia sempervirens - Yew-leaved sequoia

Sequoia sempervirens is sometimes called the yew-leaved sequoia because of its foliage resembling that of its cousin. This conifer is a majestic giant, the largest in the world, and is capable of living for several centuries. Due to its size, it's only suitable for large gardens. The entire tree emits an extraordinary resinous fragrance, especially the brown-red bark, which cracks deeply. It expands slightly with age, extending its branches in a graceful movement that gently guides them towards the sky at their tips. This monumental tree requires a cool, deep, well-drained, and rather acidic soil to support its growth, and prefers a humid climate throughout the year, hot in summer and fairly mild in winter.

Sequoia sempervirens is a coniferous tree from the family of Taxodiaceae, native to North America, more precisely to a narrow strip along the Pacific coast of the United States, from 0 m to 900 m (2952.8 ft) altitude. The largest specimens are found in very rainy valleys, often shrouded in fog. Fossils attest to the presence of sequoias in Europe before the major glaciations of the Quaternary. In natural environments, under good conditions, it can reach a height of 80 m to 110 m (262.5 ft to 360.9 ft) with a spread of 10 m to 15 m (32.8 ft to 49.2 ft), and develop a fairly narrow and airy conical habit. In cultivation, it rarely exceeds 50 m (164 ft) in height and has a spread of 8 m to 10 m (26.2 ft to 32.8 ft). This species shows fairly rapid growth.

Its single trunk supports a conical crown, with flat, bright green needles measuring 2.5cm (1 in) in length, horizontally borne on lateral twigs inserted on the slightly drooping main branches. This plant is monoecious, meaning that there are male and female individuals. When the female cones are pollinated, they become ovoid in shape, reddish-brown in colour, and upright in posture. They mature in two years. The bark of this sequoia is remarkable, both for its reddish hue, its resistance to fire and pathogenic fungi, and for its powerful balsamic scent and the decorative deep crevices that form over the years. The Sequoia is the only conifer equipped with a lignotuber, a kind of swelling that forms on the roots and underground stems, capable of producing shoots, for example after the passage of fire or lightning. This plant has a highly developed but rather shallow root system, which makes transplantation somewhat delicate but allows it to draw on the soil's nutritional and water resources with great efficiency.

Plant in a garden big enough to accommodate it. If conditions are met, it will become an exceptional tree, which will undoubtedly be the pride of the gardener who planted it, and will survive, fully integrating into the history of a family and a garden. It can be planted as a focal point or as a hedge, at the boundaries of the countryside, or placed in front of a backdrop of Phyllostachys bambusoides, the giant bamboo. Such a massive tree requires a solid base; its location should be carefully chosen, in deep soil and in a well-exposed position. It requires little to no maintenance after the first few years and pairs well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and masonry structures. The visually striking qualities of conifers naturally assert themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures to the gentle sway of flowers. These giants of the horticultural world add permanence to the structure of a garden.