Wood Information
Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens; Family: Taxodiaceae
The genus Sequoia contains one species (S. sempervirens). A related tree, the
giant sequoia (Sequoiadenrdon giganteum) is also called redwood, big tree or
giant redwood. The name sequoia was used to honor Sequoyah (also spelled
Sequoia), or George Guess (1770?-1843), the Native American inventor of the
Cherokee alphabet. Sempervirens means evergreen.
Common Names: California cedar, California redwood, coast redwood, corla,
giant-of-the-forest, Humboldt redwood, ledwood, Mexican cherry, pin rouge
d'ambrique, redwood, sequoia, sequoia de California, sequoia roja, sequoia
rossa, sequoia toujours vert, vavona.
Distribution: Redwood is native to the Pacific Coast from southwestern Oregon
to central California.
Tree: Redwood trees reach heights of 200 to 300 feet, with diameters of 6 to 12
feet. The record is 376 feet tall, with a 20 foot diameter and an age of 2,200
years, and represents the world’s tallest tree.
Wood: The sapwood is white, while the heartwood is a dark to medium reddish
brown. Redwood has exceptionally straight grain, high dimensional stability and
is resistant to warping. It is a moderately strong wood.
Uses: Heavy beams, bridge timbers, planks, siding, doors, veneer, furniture,
plywood, pulping, particle board, shingles, grape stakes, posts and novelties
(from burl wood).
Harding Pens and Woodturnings