The Atlas Obscura Podcast In Search of the Ghosts of the Forests
Jan 6, 2026
Zane Moore, a plant biologist specializing in the genetics and ecology of redwoods, joins to unravel the mystery of albino redwoods with their ghostly white leaves. He contrasts the growth of typical coast redwoods with the puzzling existence of these non-photosynthetic sprouts. Zane shares his extensive research, cataloging over 700 albino redwoods and discusses their unique survival strategies, including a fascinating toxin reservoir theory. The hike to observe one first-hand reveals the striking beauty and public curiosity surrounding these rare trees.
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White Trees Lack Photosynthesis
- Albino redwoods lack chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesize.
- Their whiteness makes them biologically unexpected yet real within redwood populations.
Finding An Albino In Oakland Hills
- Zane showed Alexa a tall albino redwood in the Oakland Hills after a mile hike.
- The tree surprised Alexa because she initially thought the white foliage looked dead.
Huge Genome, High Mutation Rate
- Redwood genomes are huge, about nine times larger than humans'.
- A large, complex genome increases mutational variation that produces odd forms like albinos.