Giant Redwood ‘Powder Blue’ – Sequoiadendron giganteum is a selected blue-foliaged form of one of the largest and longest-lived trees on earth, offered here as a well-grown specimen of 120/150cm supplied in a 15 litre container. Where the species carries grey-green needles, this selection holds a soft powder-blue cast that is most pronounced on new growth in late spring and holds its tone through winter, giving a cool, silvery presence against darker evergreens, brick walls or open sky.
The habit is strongly conical, with a central leader rising straight and tiers of dense, slightly drooping branches clothed in short, awl-shaped scale leaves that spiral around the shoots. These needles are prickly to the touch and release a faint resinous scent when brushed. With age the trunk becomes buttressed and deeply fluted, covered in thick, fibrous, cinnamon-red bark that is spongy to press and remarkably fire and pest resistant. Small, egg-shaped cones around 4/7cm long appear on mature trees, ripening from green to brown over two seasons.
This is a tree for space. Planted as a single specimen on a lawn, at the end of a long view, or marking a driveway or boundary on a larger property, it develops a silhouette that becomes a landmark within a few decades. Growth in the early years is quick, often 30/60cm annually once established, slowing as the crown matures. It is fully hardy throughout Britain, tolerates exposure once settled, and copes with cold winters, coastal wind inland of the salt line, and the fluctuating conditions of recent seasons.
The bluest Giant Redwood in cultivation at the moment with all year round vibrant blue foliage that stays with the tree as it gets older. An open an airy upright habit.
Care Guide
Plant from autumn to early spring while the soil is workable, avoiding frozen or waterlogged ground. Choose a position in full sun or very light shade; blue colouring is strongest in open light. Deep, moist but free-draining loam suits it best, though it accepts clay that does not sit wet and sandy soils improved with organic matter. Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball and no deeper, tease out any circling roots, and set the tree at the same depth it sat in the pot. Backfill firmly, water in thoroughly, then mulch with 5/8cm of bark or composted material, keeping it clear of the trunk.
Water generously through the first two or three summers, particularly during dry spells from June to August, as young redwoods resent drought. A single bucketful once or twice weekly is more effective than frequent light sprinkling. Apply a balanced slow-release feed in early spring if growth seems sluggish, though established trees rarely need feeding.
Staking is advisable on exposed sites for the first two winters; use a low stake and a flexible tie, checking annually that it is not constricting the trunk. Pruning should be minimal. Never remove or shorten the leading shoot, as this spoils the natural outline permanently. Remove only dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter. Lower limbs may be lifted gradually to reveal the bark. Keep grass and weeds away from the base while young.
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
More than 50 years
Ultimate spread
8 metres or more
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