The sequoia is considered the most powerful tree in the world with an imposing growth. It stands for longevity and robustness. The largest living tree, at around 83 m tall, is the 'General Sherman Tree' in Sequoia National Park in California. Sequoias can live for around 3000 to 4000 years. It takes its botanical name from a Cherokee chief named Sequoyah, who developed the syllabic script for the Cherokee language in the early 19th century. It is threatened with extinction in its natural habitat on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California. It is now protected there, for example in Sequoia National Park. Since the 19th century, the sequoia has been planted in parks and large gardens in Europe as a free-standing tree. Here it can reach heights of 25–30 m.

• Origin: western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500 m

• Growth height: up to 95 m (in Europe up to 30 m)
  
  
• Needles: evergreen, scale-shaped to lanceolate, sharply pointed, densely pressed, blue-green
  
  
• Bark: light reddish brown, peeling off in long strips
  
  
• Fruit: cones ovoid, 5 to 8 cm long, reddish brown
  
  
• Soil/location: thrives in all normal, cultivated soils; fresh to moist, nutrient-rich, deep sandy loam soil is optimal; sunny to partially sunny, location protected from cold winds