Future Artemis Moon Tree

Giant sequoias can be grown in most climates, whereas their cousins, coastal redwoods, are restricted to the foggy coasts of the Western United States. This is why giant sequoia seeds were chosen as one species of Moon Tree seeds for Artemis I.

Giant sequoias are native to areas in central California. They grow in middle elevations along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. These trees like to grow in humid environments with dry summers and snowy winters.

Giant sequoias are evergreen trees. Evergreen trees keep all of their leaves through the entire year. They have leaves that are scale-like and overlapping, and they grow cones to store and protect their seeds. Giant sequoia cones can hold seeds for up to 20 years. Mature trees can disperse anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 seeds per year. These massive trees grow to an average height of 250–275 feet.

Giant sequoia was used commercially until the 1950s. Now its uses include shelter and cover for more than 30 species of birds, including white-headed woodpeckers. Several mammals also use this tree for shelter. Chipmunks will use its sawdust as cleansing baths, and some mammals will use the flesh of its cones as food.

1. Giant sequoias are the largest trees in the world.
2. Giant sequoia bark has adapted to protect the tree against periodic fire.
3. Giant sequoia seeds are around the size of a grain of oatmeal. One pound of them contains 91,000 seeds!