Redwoods

The Original San Francisco Giants

Among the many beautiful spaces within San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Redwood Grove is consistently cited as a favorite among visitors who are surprised to find that they don't have to leave the City to see these venerable trees. This century-old grove is full of the fog-loving towering giants known as Coast Redwoods or Sequoia sempervirens. Their magnificent height creates an otherworldly sanctuary filled with lush shade-loving understory plants like sword ferns, flowering currant, and huckleberry. Come explore the Redwood Grove without leaving San Francisco!

About the Collection

One of the most remarkable and unique plant communities in the world, our collection of Sequoia sempervirens represents the key species in this very special coastal plant community. These trees are the tallest living things on Earth and among the most well-adapted to their growing conditions. Stands of old-growth coast redwoods once flourished on more than two million acres but have been reduced by extensive logging during the last 150 years. The coast redwoods at San Francisco Botanical Garden were planted around the turn of the 20th century and are among the oldest trees in the Botanical Garden. More than 100 species of associated plants have been added over the past 40 years to represent a typical redwood forest community.

Explore

Redwood Trail Guide
Download and print this handy guide to walk you through the Redwood Grove – or pick one up at the admission kiosk on your next visit.

A Walking Tour (podcast)

Fog and the Redwoods (podcast)

Sequoia sempervirens on The Gymnosperm Database

Coast Redwood: A Natural and Cultural History, available from our Garden Bookstore

Protecting California's Remaining Redwoods

Save the Redwoods League The mission of Save the Redwoods League is to protect and restore redwood forests and connect people with their peace and beauty so these wonders of the natural world flourish.

SFBGS does its part to promote conservation of Redwoods
Director of Youth Education Annette Huddle, with support from the Save the Redwoods League, recently designed and launched a new school program called Smallest Kids, Tallest Trees. This program helps our youngest visitors to learn about redwoods and to appreciate their incredible qualities. Annette says, "You can see the looks on their faces as they look up into these tallest trees, and they immediately get it: they know we need to preserve these special trees." She adds that she expects Smallest Kids, Tallest Trees to serve primarily as a spring program next year.

Bury Me in Redwood Country
A 2009 documentary film about the Redwood forest landscape.

Featured Plants