However, in their country of origin, the USA, they would be babies.
In the state of California, in Giant Forest National Park, the "Grizzly Giant" is 64 meters tall and has a circumference of 30 meters at chest height. The largest and most voluminous sequoia tree on earth, named after "General Sherman," is located in Sequoia National Park, also in California. At almost 84 meters tall and 1,489 cubic meters in volume, it is the star among the mountain mammoths.
The age of these giants is estimated at approximately 1,900 to 2,700 years.
Wilhelma seed refers to the seeds of the giant sequoia (Wellingtonia) which, on the initiative of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg (1816-1864), were imported to Württemberg shortly after their discovery, grown and planted across southwest Germany. Some of these plants, now also known as giant or mountain sequoias, have been preserved and are often protected as natural monuments.
The giant sequoias were discovered in the USA in 1852. Wilhelm I, who loved nature, was said to have been so enthusiastic about reports from traders and travellers who returned from America that in 1864, shortly before his death, he ordered sequoia seeds for 90 dollars. The seed dealer was probably Christian Schickler.
According to legend, the high number is probably based on a misunderstanding. The king is said to have ordered "a solder of seeds", the Americans translated the unit of measurement as "a lot" - and sent a lot of seeds. At that time, a lot in Württemberg corresponded to about 15 grams, but instead the Americans sent a pound - which in Württemberg at that time corresponded to 470 grams or 100,000 pieces.
A court gardener in Stuttgart grew seeds from overseas in the Wilhelma cold house in 1864. A few thousand strong plants grew from the seeds (figures vary between 5,000 and 8,000). They were put in schools and distributed to forestry departments across the country and planted in the Wilhelma itself. They were also sold for a fee. Giant sequoias were sought after in royal and princely houses - as an exotic rarity to decorate the stately residences. In the cold winter of 1879/80, however, many of the young trees froze to death in temperatures of up to minus 36° Celsius.