Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 30–60 ft tall and 12–18 ft wide, needs medium to high water, and prefers full sun.
medium to high water30–60 ft tall and 12–18 ft wideDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Jeff Lahr, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Jeff Lahr, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Laura Camp, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6–8
- Water needs
- medium to high water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 30–60 ft tall and 12–18 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~18 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Soil ChemistryOur alkaline clay locks up iron for this one, so leaves often yellow between green veins and growth stalls unless you treat it.
- Critical: Cold HardinessIt is only borderline hardy here, so a hard Front Range winter can knock it back or kill it; treat it as a gamble for a warm, sheltered spot.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: Our alkaline clay locks up iron for this one, so leaves often yellow between green veins and growth stalls unless you treat it. It is only borderline hardy here, so a hard Front Range winter can knock it back or kill it; treat it as a gamble for a warm, sheltered spot.
- How big does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia get?
- It matures to about 30–60 ft tall and 12–18 ft wide.
- How much room does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia need?
- Give Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia about 18 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia grow into?
- Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia hardy on the Front Range?
- Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia is hardy in USDA 6–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: It is only borderline hardy here, so a hard Front Range winter can knock it back or kill it; treat it as a gamble for a warm, sheltered spot.
- How much water does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia need?
- It needs medium to high water once established.
- How fast does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia grow?
- Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia live?
- Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia deer-resistant?
- Hazel Smith Giant Sequoia is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
