How to Draw a Redwood Tree

In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Redwood Tree in 5 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.

The images above represents how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.

Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.

At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Redwood Tree.

Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.

How to Draw a Redwood Tree - Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: First, draw the trunk. Draw a long slanted line going toward the middle but leave a small gap at toward to top. Leave a space and draw another slanted line going toward the middle on the right side. Leave a small gap in this line toward the middle.

Step 2: Next, draw the roots of your tree. At the bottom of your trunk, draw a few small slanted lines going away from your tree. Do the same on the right side of your trunk. Draw a line straight across to connect your roots but draw two spaced out, slanted lines in the middle to make one big root.

Step 3: Then, draw the branches and add detail to your trunk. Draw two spaced out lines coming out of the gap you left in your trunk on the left side. Do the same thing for the gap you left on the right side. These are your branches. Now add a couple of small wavy lines going up and down your trunk to add detail.

Step 4: Now, draw the outlines of the leaves. At the end of your two branches, draw a medium sided circle using zigzag lines instead of just a line. Draw three more of these zigzags circles at the top of your trunk. Now draw a zigzag triangle to the top of your three zigzag circles.

Step 5: To finish, draw your leaves. Inside of the outline of your leaves, draw a few small lines so every direction to show the leaves.

Interesting Facts about Redwood Trees

Redwood Trees are giants in the tree world. They grow to be as tall as 375 feet! The trees were found in the state of California in the United States by early settlers. The forests became quickly endangered as the logging business moved in and began cutting the giants down for building homes and furniture. Today the trees are protected by law in a national park. Tourists come from all over to giant trees that can be burrowed into for tunnels.

Did you know?

  • In 2006, three Redwood Trees were discovered by National Geographic researchers that broke the previous world record for tallest Redwood. In 1963 the record was 368 feet. Today the three record breakers are 378, 376, 371 feet.
  • Redwood trees have more plant life than any other place on earth.
  • Redwood forests have been around for 240 million years!
  • Redwood bark can be a foot thick!
  • Redwoods can live over 2000 years!
  • There are 3 species of Redwood: the Coastal Redwood, the Sierra Redwood, and the Dawn Redwood.
  • Trees that fall down will produce new trees if the branch is pointing up and not bothered by anything. These trees are called “Cathedral” trees.

Activity: If possible, plan a field trip to the Redwood forests of California. Many interesting tourists’ attractions have sprung up around these natural wonders.