A tree planted by naturalist John Muir is in trouble, and Archangel Ancient Tree Archive has been called in to preserve its genetics. In about 1898, John Muir took a trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and brought back a Giant Sequoia sapling, which he planted near his family farmhouse in Martinez, CA.
UPDATE: The cloning was a success. Find out more here.

John Muir Giant Sequoia Today
Muir planted the tree where the famed naturalist and his family lived and maintained a family orchard business from the 1880’s until his death in 1914. He and his family are buried in a family plot near the family house. The site later became the John Muir National Historic Site in 1962.

John Muir’s Newly Planted Giant Sequoia, circa 1898
The tree Muir planted, a Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia) is now about 115 years old and 70 feet tall and is considered one of the most significant biotic cultural resources on the site. Unfortunately, the tree, like most of its species in the San Francisco Bay area, is infected with the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea, a vascular disease that causes branches and tips to die. The tree has been presumably dealing with the disease for decades.
Keith Park is the horticulturalist & preservation arborist at the site. “I do what I can to keep it healthy and as non-stressed as I can,” said Park, “hoping to keep it alive for years to come.”
Park said that in an effort to clone the tree they have tried to root cuttings from the shoot tips but have had no success. He heard about Archangel’s success at cloning ancient trees from a colleague, and decided to reach out for help. “I thought if anybody could propagate our cherished Giant Sequoia, it would be David Milarch,” remarked Mr.Park.

Keith Park Collecting Cuttings
In May of this year, Keith Park spoke with the team at Archangel to learn what kind of cuttings were required for the propagation. He then climbed toward the top of the Giant Sequoia on the Muir site to collect the proper material. Archangel contacted the Contra Costa department of agriculture and secured an Inspection Certificate so that the cuttings could legally be shipped back to the Archangel propagation facility in Copemish, MI.

Jake Milarch Works with Cuttings
Upon arrival in Michigan, the cuttings were treated with a mix of growth hormones and anti-fungal solutions that have successfully been used on the past on other ancient Giant Sequoias, and inserted them into a planting medium. The trays of cuttings are now housed in the Archangel growing facility, where they will be monitored for growth.
Now the waiting game begins. Roots are expected to begin to grow on the cuttings in about six months time. If successful, the new trees will be transferred to larger pots and grown in the Archangel greenhouse facilities to a sufficient size for replanting outdoors in safe havens so the genetics from John Muir’s Giant Sequoia can live on, even if the original tree should perish.
John Muir was America’s most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist. He is one of California’s most important historical personalities. He has been called “The Father of our National Parks,” and is founder of the Sierra Club. His words and deeds helped inspire President Theodore Roosevelt’s innovative conservation programs, including establishing the first National Monuments by Presidential Proclamation, and Yosemite National Park by congressional action. A photo of Muir and Roosevelt is at the top of this page.

John Muir Tree to Live On

Cuttings Waiting for Roots
The John Muir National Historic Site preserves the 14-room Italianate Victorian mansion where John Muir and his family lived. The site is nearby a 325 acre tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands historically owned by the Muir family. Find out more about the John Muir National Historic Site here.
Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is grateful to Keith Park and the John Muir National Historic Site for reaching out and affording the opportunity to share what has been learned by cloning the largest, oldest, and most iconic trees on Earth.
I, like many other people, really enjoy the extended background info on the trees that the Tree Archive is cloning. From what I understand, you have also cloned the Fieldbrook stump and the Barrett stump. It would be nice to have some background about these two trees too. How big they were before being cut, etc.
Hi Luke. Here is a story with information about the Fieldbrook stump.
I will pray for roots start growing
I just want to thank you for doing such wonderful work! John Muir is a personal hero of mine and I’m so glad that your Archive exists!!
If sequoias could grow& exist in NYC, I’d definitely plant one!!
Everyone at Archangel is doing wonderful work… and Tree Archive is a great project. As an artist, I have long been inspired by the ancient trees of California, Oregon and Washington and thus have completed many paintings about them. Should you ever seek items for a fund raiser auctions, I would be honored to donate a painting. You can view some of the paintings on my website: leemusgrave.com
Hi,
I’m all new to Archangel having just read The Man Who Planted Trees
this past winter. In fact, this may be the first “official” newsletter I’ve
received since subscribing. Also new to me this spring: Naikan…
Very grateful for your work on behalf of trees and those of us
who’ve loved and planted them over a lifetime. With great
sadness I’ve watch “my” Eastern hemlocks perish in just
the last half dozen years. Now a senior on a very fixed
income there isn’t much more I can do except make a
symbolic donation and share your book with as
many people as I can and express to you my
heartfelt thanks-again.
Thank you Bill! We truly appreciate your support.
THANK YOU !……….for what you are doing to help preserve not only the original tree John Muir planted – but the cutting taken from that tree.
The very year I joined the Sierra Club, my parents and I happened to be vacationing up the California coast (from our home in So. Calif.). Mom knew we would be in that area, so while she was still planning the vacation loop, she asked me if I wanted to visit Muir’s home in Martinez. I said “Yes !”…………and that Sunday that we were there in Martinez, was very special to me. Not only because we happened to be to only ones there that day – so that we got a personal tour, from the docent……….but I told them about having just joined the Sierra Club that year…………and I remember that the tour included visiting and hearing about Muir’s work developing the orchard on the family farm.
I love all trees, but ESPECIALLY Redwood trees………….and I’ve been overjoyed since learning about Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, and your work preserving / restoring Redwood and all sorts of other “long lost” forests of the world.
I have been in awe of trees ever since I was a child and my Dad taught me all about the trees we would see in our many road trips all of 50+ years ago. One of my most memorable trips was to Muir Woods. I cried as I sat in the beauty of the trees. I then heard a clip about Archangel on NPR…I am so thankful for what you do. I will watch and wait and hope like many others that this special tree takes root. Fingers crossed and keep up the good work and thank you from those of us who share your passion from distance.