Redwood Trees Are Not "Effectively Sterile": Debunking the Low Germination Myth
Redwoods producing millions of seeds at 1-3% germination still yields thousands of seedlings annually. Their restricted range is about habitat (fog belt), not reproductive failure. They also clone via basal sprouts.
A claim that redwoods are "effectively sterile" due to a 1-3% germination rate is misleading when you consider the math. A mature coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) produces millions of seeds annually. Even at a conservative 100,000 seeds per year: - At 1% germination: 1,000 viable seedlings - At 3% germination: 3,000 potential new trees This is more than sufficient for population maintenance. Low germination rates per seed are normal for large trees — they compensate with massive seed production (an evolutionary strategy called r/K selection). Redwoods also reproduce vegetatively through basal sprouts — new trees grow from the root system of existing trees or fallen logs. This clonal reproduction is actually their primary method of forest maintenance. Their restricted range (a narrow coastal strip in California/Oregon, ~450 miles long, 5-47 miles wide) is not due to reproductive failure but habitat specificity — they require the cool, moist "fog belt" conditions. They can actually grow successfully outside this range (they thrive in the UK, New Zealand, and parts of Europe) but don't naturally disperse to those locations.