Trees to 90 m; trunk to 11 m diam.; crown conic and monopodial when young, narrowed and somewhat rounded in age. Bark reddish brown, to ca. 60 cm thick, fibrous, ridged and furrowed. Branches generally horizontal to downward-sweeping with upturned ends. Leaves generally with stomates on both surfaces, the free portion to ca. 15 mm. Pollen cones nearly globose to ovoid, 4--8 mm. Seed cones 4--9 cm. Seeds 3--6 mm. 2 n = 22.

Mixed montane coniferous forests, in isolated groves on the w slopes of the Sierra Nevada; 900--2700 m; Calif.

Mature individuals of this species are the most voluminous living organisms and among the most long-lived trees. Sequoiadendron giganteum was formerly included in Sequoia , under the later homonym Sequoia gigantea (Lindley) Decaisne, a conservative placement that still has merit (J. Doyle 1945; O. Schwarz and H. Weide 1962).

Redwood, including Sequoiadendron giganteum and Sequoia sempervirens , is the state tree of California.