How Long are Redwood Tree Roots?

Depending on the variety, redwood tree roots can extend out for more than 100 feet. California or coast redwoods, giant sequoias, and dawn redwoods are nature’s three forest giants. I’ll never forget the classic scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo where Madeleine (Kim Novak) and Scottie (Jimmy Stewart) are virtually dwarfed by the “Father of the Forest” sequoia.

What gives these trees such amazing growth potential and the ability to live for thousands of years? Let’s get to the root of this question together.

Roots – Going The Distance

Redwood tree roots grow out, not down like other trees. You’ll find these systems extending only six to twelve feet deep, often with the bulk of the growth closer to three feet beneath the soil’s surface. At a glance, such shallow growth might not seem like it can support forest behemoths that can grow between one hundred and fifty and three hundred feet tall.

No Taproot Needed

Unlike the thick taproot that becomes a carrot or the sometimes frustratingly long ones that support a dandelion, redwood seedlings don’t rely on these central, deep-diving anchors. That’s because their shallow root systems are able to get water and oxygen nearer to the surface of the soil where they grow.

How Do Redwoods Get Water?

Did you know that redwoods can make their own rain? Shallow roots mean these trees need a lot of moisture. Sure, groves along the California and Oregon coasts can count on winter rains, but they also “comb” fog during the summer months – collecting moisture on hanging branches and leaves and dripping it onto the soil.

According to plant ecologist Todd Dawson, these trees get between one-fourth and one-half of their water this way. If that isn’t cool enough for you, terpenes released from their leaves can also help condense moisture, creating cooling clouds.

It Takes A Grove To Grow A Redwood

You’ve probably heard plenty of quotes and anecdotes championing the benefits of deep roots (any Tolkien fans out there?). Redwoods show us the advantages of shallow but far-reaching roots – they make it easier to … Read the rest of the story.

from Nature Nibble https://ift.tt/rwLmhMk