Sequoia sempervirens is the sole living
species of the
genus Sequoia in the cypress family
Cupressaceae (formerly treated in
Taxodiaceae). Common names include
coast redwood,
coastal redwood and
California redwood. It is an
evergreen, long-lived,
monoecious tree living 1,200–1,800 years or more. This species includes the tallest living trees on Earth, reaching up to in height (without the
roots) and up to in
diameter at breast height / dbh. These trees are also among the oldest living things on Earth. Before commercial logging and clearing began by the 1850s, this massive tree occurred
naturally in an estimated along much of coastal California (excluding southern California where rainfall is not sufficient) and the southwestern corner of coastal Oregon within the United States. An estimated 70% or more of ancient
old-growth redwood trees have been displaced by environmental changes or cut down.