Redwood forests in Spain

You may think they don't exist. redwood forests in Spain. There is nothing strange that you think this way, because this plant species is typical of California. Specifically, it can be found in such wonderful places as Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks.

However, the sequoia has been transplanted in places as different as United Kingdom, Chile o New Zealand and it has resisted perfectly. The only thing you need is a habitat similar to that of its place of origin and in our country they also exist. Therefore, below, we are going to show you where to see redwood forests in Spain. But first let's get to know this plant species a little better.

What is the sequoia like and in what ecosystems does it occur?

The sequoia is a conifer that is among the trees bigger of our planet. In fact, one of its two variants, the giant sequoia, is the largest plant organism in the world in terms of volume. This occurs at altitudes above 1500 meters and where abundant snowfall falls. Regarding its altitude, it can reach 90 meters.

However, you will be surprised to know that the other variety that exists is even taller than the previous one. It's about the redwood or sempervirens and can reach 115 meters. In its case, it is abundant in coastal areas with high rainfall (around 2000 mm annually) and abundant fog.

The one considered the tallest in the world belongs to this last subspecies. This sequoia has been named Hyperion and is in the Redwood National Park, located north of San Francisco. It measures no less than 115 meters. But, once again, the volume is up to par. By amount of biomass, the largest in the world is the so-called General Sherman, which is in the Sequoia National Park. It is less tall than the previous one, measuring 83,8 meters, but its trunk has a diameter at the base of 11 and its branches have a length of 40.

Interestingly, the growth rate of redwoods is slowest traveller than that of other plant species, since it is around four centimeters per year. But, if we tell you that he can live until 3000, you will understand that he has plenty of time to reach his characteristic height. Likewise, as you have seen, the thickness of its trunk is in accordance with its length. Not all of them reach the aforementioned 11 meters, but they easily exceed eight.

Five places where you will find redwood forests in Spain

Now that we know these colossi of nature a little better, we are going to focus on the places where you can see redwood forests in Spain. Is about ecosystems similar to their natural habitat, that is, with abundant altitude, rain and fog. Likewise, you can see them of the two species that we have explained to you. Both the giant and the sempervirens They are present in our country.

But the sequoias that we have in Spain They are not as colossal as those in California. The largest is in the gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. Perhaps that is why it has been named The King and measure Meters 46. However, the maximum diameter of its trunk is 14. In any case, there are other places in Spain where you can see sequoia forests. Let's get to know them.

Mount Castrove Redwood Forest

Located in the town of Poio, which belongs to the province of Pontevedra, it's the redwood forest largest in all of Europe. Its origin is very curious. It was created thanks to the copies sent in 1992 by the president of the United States George Bush to commemorate the fifth centenary of the discovery of America.

Likewise, the setting chosen to replant them is also symbolic. Mount Castrove is very close to the Atlantic Ocean, looking towards the coasts of the New World. But it also had the perfect conditions for them to develop without problems: almost five hundred meters high and quite humid. On the other hand, due to their youth, the specimens in this forest are not yet very tall.

On the other hand, if you come to see this forest, we advise you to also visit the Sotomayor castle, which also has spectacular gardens. To this imposing medieval fortress from the 12th century, beautiful green spaces were added in the 19th century in the style of the French gardens of the time.

They have an area of ​​more than fifteen thousand square meters and house 175 tree species. Among these, chestnut trees, orange trees, magnolias and cypresses, but also more exotic ones such as cedars of Lebanon, araucarias and, of course, redwoods. In addition, it offers you a wonderful collection of 300 camellias which belong to 22 different species.

Monte Cabezón, another redwood forest in Spain that needs time

We now travel to the Cantabrian town of Cabezón de la Sal to get to know this other redwood forest even more populated than the previous one. In fact, it has 850 units, but, like that one, it needs time since it is still in the youth phase. However, its specimens already measure about forty meters in height and two in diameter at their trunk.

Likewise, the history of this forest is as curious as that of Castrove. In this case, it was due to the interest of a logging businessman. Thinking that these gigantic trees would give him a lot of raw material, he decided to plant them. However, his business did not go any further and, fortunately, they were never cut down.

Thanks to this, you can visit it and explore its more than two and a half hectares along the numerous trails that the area has. Furthermore, these not only cover the forest, but also the natural complex of Monte Corona. These are several mountainous elevations that cover the municipalities of Cabezón, Valdáliga, Udías and Comillas. We don't need to tell you that the landscapes are wonderful.

Masjoan Redwoods

We now travel to the province of Gerona to see this redwood arboretum. As you know, this name is given to any small botanical garden that is preferably dedicated to trees. This one that concerns us is located in the Masjoan farmhouse, located in the municipality of Espinelvas. The property belonged to the Masferrer family and Marià, one of its members, was a prominent naturalist and botanist.

He planted giant redwoods on his property to get them acclimatized to the area and he was successful, as they are still in perfect condition. Some of them have exceeded forty meters in height and give the place a unique atmosphere.

However, the arboretum has many other plant species. Among them, you can see cedars, pines, firs or oaks. Furthermore, it offers you guided tours with circular routes that run through the entire garden. We advise you to know it. Not in vain, it has been declared natural heritage by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Sequoias of the Can Casades information center, in Montseny

El Montseny Natural Park It is a wonder that has been declared Biosphere Reserve. It extends through the regions of Osona, La Selva and Vallés Oriental over more than thirty thousand hectares. It is one of the most important in Catalonia and presents a wide variety of spaces and great ecological wealth.

Among its forests, those of the Mediterranean stand out, such as pine forests, holm oak forests and cork oak forests, although it also has those typical of the Euro-Siberian biome such as those of beech and fir. But we bring this park here because of the three redwood trees that you can see outside its information center. Can Casades.

They were planted at the beginning of the 20th century and measure about forty meters high. Likewise, the trunk of the tallest one has a diameter of more than six meters. We recommend that you take advantage of your visit to the park to see them. But also that you know this natural space well. In the information center itself you have all the data you need. Furthermore, it offers you bicycles and other free materials for you to walk through it.

Sacred Sequoias

We now move to the province of Granada, specifically to the municipality of Huescar, to discover this other sequoia forest in Spain. It is located at the foot of the peak of La Sagra, in a farmhouse called La Losa. They were planted around 1870 by their owner, the Marquis of Corvera, who brought them from Mexico, in honor of his wife.

This one was called María Antonia, which is why these sequoias were named that way in the area. In total there are about thirty "mariantonias" that make up the forest and have been cataloged as Singular Grove of Andalusia. The tallest and best preserved reach Meters 60. But they are located on a private property that you can only access with permission from their owners. However, some sequoias are next to the A-4301 road.

On the other hand, take advantage of your visit to this redwood forest in Spain to get to know the beautiful town of Huescar. In it, you have the beautiful collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor, attributed to Diego of Siloam and that combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. But you should also see the Penalva House, a modernist gem; the tower of tribute, which belonged to a Muslim fortress, and the José de Huéscar Museum, dedicated to comics.

In conclusion, we have shown you five redwood forests in Spain. But, throughout our country, you can see others. Above, we mentioned in passing that of the San Ildefonso Farm and there are also several specimens in the gardens of the Prince's House de San Lorenzo del Escorial, near to famous monastery of the same name. Dare to visit them.