Giant sequoia cones (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Person holding seed cones from a giant sequoia tree. The giant sequoia is native to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The release of seeds from the cones is triggered by the heat of forest fires. Giant sequoias are thought to live for up to 4000 years, with the biggest trees weighing over 1000 tonnes and reaching over 80 metres in height. Photographed in Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA.