Sequoia Semper Soquel in Zone 18
Question from Melissa:
I live in Zone 9, Santa Clarita, and love the Sequoia Semper Soquel–which is being sold at my local nursery. My research on the internet indicates that this tree prefers coastal mist/fog, but is also noted to grow in Zone 9. Can you advise on how successful this tree would be in my area?
Answer from Pat:
I totally understand your love of the coast redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) and ‘Soquel’ is an attractive selection with fine foliage that’s tinged with blue and has straight limbs that turn up at the tips. Yes, it will grow in your locality which is Zone 9 in Santa Clarita, but this does not mean that it’s a particularly good choice for growing in your garden. Due to your proximity to the Mojave desert, your climate is hot and dry for much of the year. (Santa Clarita is known for having the largest annual number of brush fires in Los Angeles County.)
Redwoods are pest and disease resistant and able to survive drought once established but the best looking examples growing in hot, dry climates are watered a great deal and fed regularly. For example, they grow well in moist lawns, though they eventually crowd out the grass. Without similar care a redwood will be thin and straggly looking, thus not worth growing.
So, to sum up, the decision is up to you but in your hot interior climate you would need to water the tree enough to keep the ground evenly moist and also fertilize it regularly. This would make the tree thrive, but the massive use of irrigation might stress your budget as well as upset the water authorities in your town.
Thanks for this input, Pat. Can you recommend another type of pine that might fair better? I have several neighbors that have pine trees on the hillside firms that surround their properties that are just lovely. I don’t know what they are but they are shaped more like a christmas tree with broader branches at the base. I’m sure they are watered regularly and look just great. Any recommendations for an evergreen pine for my hillsides would be appreciated. Thanks again!
First, I have to apologize for an error. When you said Zone 9 I thought you were talking about Sunset Zone 9, but obviously you were talking about USDA zones. I use the Sunset climate zones on this blog because they are far more helpful here in Southern California. You live in Sunset Zone 18, not zone 9. Sunset Zone 18 is an acceptable zone for growing a coast redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) but all the other things I already stated about irrigation still apply. Perhaps there is plenty of water where you live? Some cities have independent water supplies from wells or other sources. Secondly, sequoias are conifers but they are not pine trees. The evergreen trees you admire that your neighbors are growing and that look like Christmas trees are conifers for sure, but not necessarily pine trees. For example, they might be redwood trees. (A pine tree is just one genus of tree that bears needles and cones. Other conifers are hemlock, spruce, cypress, juniper, cedar, larch (which is a deciduous conifer), redwood and others.) If you are set on planting a conifer you can go ahead and plant a sequoia tree if you want. It will grow fine if you water and feed it, but first I would go and talk to your neighbors and ask which conifer they planted since they are doing so well and you like them. You might not like what I would recommend, which is Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Pyramid’ or ‘Carolina Sapphire’.) This is a fast-growing tree that takes wind, takes drought, makes a good windbreak and grows in the shape of a Christmas tree. C. arizonica ‘Pyramidilis’ is very compact. If you care anything about water use, at least consider one of these trees as an option. But meanwhile go talk to your neighbors.
Well, all this time I have been under the impression that we were in Sunset’s Zone 9—with many of our nursery people reinforcing that. But thank you for that correction! I will check with these neighbors.
The best way to find out what zone you live in is to look at the maps and descriptions in Sunset Western Garden Book. Sunset Zone is on the air-drained hillsides surrounding the Central Valley. Unless there is another Santa Clarita there, that’s not where you live. Nursery people are often confused about plant zones since plants come with the USDA zones on them, not the more helpful Sunset Zones. Zone 18 where you live is excellent for growing deciduous fruit trees, since there is enough winter chill but it can also be warm enough for avocado and a few tropicals, though sometimes they freeze in winter.
Thank you both for the “back-n-forth” info regarding the suitability of certain Sequoia varieties in Southern California. Several years ago I planted (5) Sequoia’s in a fairly confined area (aprx 25’x15′) probably too close? I was told by the nursery that the variety was “Santa Cruz” ?? Anyway, following the tail end of our historic drought, the top half of two trees (all 15′ tall) completely died with the lower halfs still alive but struggling. Two other trees began to lose branches (randomly snap off at trunk) and also large strips of bark at lower trunk would peel off?? Lastly, one of the (5) trees has remained relatively healthy?? My questions: 1) is this variety “Santa Cruz” suitable for my zone (also 18) ? 2) Did I plant them too close to each other? 3) Are my issues likely drought related? 4) What do you feed them and how often?
Your comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Yes, you planted the trees too close together, but most likely that is not what killed them. I suggest that you cut these trees down and plant something else better adapted to your climate zone and needing less irrigation.