Redwood National Park, named for ancient redwood trees, covers more than 71,000 acres. This land protects the last great stand of redwoods. Redwoods and other native trees spread across these hills, valleys and coastline.
Sequoia sempervirens, or coast redwoods, are the tallest trees in the world. In the park, these trees grow up to 380 feet tall with trunks 16 to 18 feet in girth.
Large cone-shaped Douglas fir thrive among the redwoods. When these trees die, 200 to 300 feet tall, they fall and decay over centuries, providing forest nutrients.
Tall salt-tolerant Sitka spruce grow along the rugged Pacific coast. Named for Sitka, Alaska, these evergreens are the largest species of spruce and grow more than 200 feet tall.
Hardwood trees such as tanoak, madrone and large-leaf maple dominate dry hilly slopes. They require less moisture than redwoods and form the Redwood National Park inland forests.
California laurel, red alder and canyon live oak tolerate dry climate and higher elevations than coastal trees. These species, smaller than redwoods and fir, will infill among other trees and hillside vegetation.
