The Trees at the Promenade Museum
The Giant Sequoia (Or Giant Redwood) Tree
The giant sequoia is native to the Sierra Nevada in California, unlike its cousin the yew tree which is a coastal species.
It is a very bright species that tolerates a little drought.
It is one of the tallest trees in the world, if not the tallest.
"General Sherman", one of the best known, is 83m high with a circumference of 30m and an estimated volume of 1,400m3!
It can live up to 3,000 years.
Its name comes from that of a Cherokee Chief known for his strength and perseverance.
Sequoias were already growing in the Jurassic period 200 million years ago. They disappeared from Europe during the Quaternary ice ages, which considerably depleted our flora.
Giant sequoias have been planted quite often in France since the middle of the 19th century. In our Geopark, they are often found near the foresters houses and the train-stations of the Pignes train.
Have fun walking around Digne and finding the ones that grow there!
Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) J. Bucholz
The Giant Sequoia (or Giant Redwood) Tree
Leaves are blue-green scales spread to the branches, a thick, fibrous, red bark.
Giant sequoia originating from a limited area in western Sierra Nevada in California where as Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is a coastal species. It is one of the greatest trees in the world if not the tallest. The oldest known giant sequoia is more than 3,000 years old!
"General Sherman", one of the most famous sequoias, measures 83m in height, 30m in circumference, 1,500m3 in volume and is estimated to weigh about 2,100 tons.
The name Sequoia was given by Endlicher in honour of the Cherokee Chief Sequoyah (1767-1843).
In the Jurassic times sequoias grew in north America and Eurasian forests. They disappeared from Europe by the last ice age as did many other plants. They have been widely cultivated in France since 19th century and in the Haute-Provence Geopark they were planted near railway stations and foresters houses. You can find several when wandering in Digne.
