In a twist worthy of a sci-fi reboot of FernGully, something gigantic is growing in one of America’s most unlikely places. Towering giants once native to the misty mountains of California are now taking root amid the rusted relics and revitalised lots of inner-city Detroit. That’s right, Giant Sequoias, the world’s largest trees by volume, are being planted not in a national park or remote wilderness, but in an urban grid better known for Motown than old-growth forests. Buckle up, nature lovers. This is no ordinary tree tale.
From the Sierras to the Streets
The Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) has long been the botanical royalty of the American West, massive, ancient, and nearly mythical. Some reach heights of over 90 metres, live for more than 3,000 years, and are so wide you could carve a drive-through tunnel in their trunks (and indeed, people once did). But thanks to climate change, drought, and wildfire, these forest kings have faced declining habitats and increased threats in their native Sierra Nevada.
Enter David Milarch, the founder of the nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive. Milarch isn’t your everyday arborist, he’s on a mission to “clone the champions” and preserve old-growth genetics by planting living copies of ancient trees around the world. In what some might call arboricultural audacity, Milarch has turned his attention to Detroit, aiming to plant 1,000 Sequoias in the heart of the city. Yes, Detroit, where potholes outnumber plants and the winters can snap a shovel.
Climate Change Meets Tree Change
But don’t let the urban grit fool you, Detroit is becoming fertile ground for a second chance at Sequoia survival. As the planet warms, areas once deemed unsuitable are now emerging as viable new habitats. According to Milarch and his collaborators, Detroit’s combination of available open space (thanks to decades of depopulation and vacant lots), clean water from the Great Lakes, and changing climate patterns makes it a surprisingly perfect place for these prehistoric plants to flourish.
It’s not just tree-huggers getting excited. Scientists are watching closely. The project is part ecological experiment, part climate adaptation strategy. If successful, it could serve as a model for assisted migration, helping species survive by planting them in new, suitable locations. Think of it as botanical witness protection, minus the sunglasses.
Earth Day’s Big Green Reveal
In a historic first, this year’s Earth Day celebration saw the official launch of the Detroit Sequoia Forest, a project years in the making. Local volunteers, students, and city officials rolled up their sleeves to plant 50 Sequoia saplings in Detroit’s Rouge Park, with plans to scale up dramatically in the years to come.
These aren’t just any trees. Some were cloned from Sequoias that sprouted before Cleopatra reigned, their DNA promising resilience and ancient wisdom. The symbolism is striking: planting the oldest living lineage into the heart of a city famous for innovation, industry, collapse, and now, green rebirth.
Trees With a Mission (and Wi-Fi)
Even more extraordinary? These Sequoias come with Wi-Fi. OK, not exactly, but close. Each sapling is tagged and monitored using cutting-edge sensors and GPS tech to track its health, growth, and environmental impact. Researchers hope to learn how these giants adapt to their urban environment, and whether they can offer shade, carbon sequestration, and hope in equal measure.
This is not just about trees, it’s about resilience, rebirth, and rewriting the narrative of cities left behind. Detroit’s Sequoias are a living time capsule of Earth’s past, planted in a place looking to redefine its future. It’s nature’s greatest remix yet.
