Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Table of contents
- What Recent News Has Emerged About Giant Trees?
- Which Is the Tallest Tree on Earth Currently?
- Biggest Tree by Volume?
- Which Tree Has the Largest Canopy or Area?
- Top Ten Tallest Trees (2025 Science Data)
- The Oldest Living Tree?
- How Much CO₂ Can These Trees Store?
- What Are The Main Threats To These Giants?
- FAQ
- Also Read
What Recent News Has Emerged About Giant Trees?
- In 2025, scientists confirmed that Amazon Forest trees are getting “fatter”—average tree size increased by 3.2% per decade, with big trees storing even more carbon as atmospheric CO₂ rises.
- Ongoing wildfires in the US threaten some iconic giants, such as the Doerner Fir, one of the world’s tallest trees, highlighting their vulnerability to climate change.
- In the UK, giant redwoods as tall as 45 meters are thriving and have stored up to 15 tonnes of carbon; the largest Californian tree stores approximately 250 tonnes.
Which Is the Tallest Tree on Earth Currently?
Hyperion, a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California, holds the current height record at 116.07 meters (380.8 feet).
- Other contenders include Helios (114.8 m), Icarus (113.1 m), and Stratosphere Giant (113.5 m), all in Redwood National Park.
Biggest Tree by Volume?
General Sherman (Giant Sequoia, California) is the largest by trunk volume, with a whopping 52,508 cubic feet (1,487 m³).
- Its estimated dry mass is over 2,100 metric tons—making it the single largest living organism by mass.
Which Tree Has the Largest Canopy or Area?
- Pando (Utah) is considered the largest tree organism by area, covering 43 hectares. It’s a clonal colony of quaking aspen connected by an underground root system.
- India’s Thimmamma Marrimanu Banyan tree claims the world record for widest canopy, spreading over 19,107 m².
Top Ten Tallest Trees (2025 Science Data)
| Tree Name | Location | Height (m) | Unique Fact |
| Hyperion (Redwood) | California | 116.07 | Tallest known living tree |
| Helios, Icarus, Paradox | California | 113.1–114.8 | Redwood siblings |
| South Tibetan Cypress | Tibet | 102.3 | Tallest in Asia |
| Sitka Spruce | US, California | 100.2 | Tall conifer |
| Douglas-fir | Oregon, US | 99.5 | Mega-old specimen |
| Yellow Meranti (Menara) | Borneo, Malaysia | 97.58 | Tallest tropical tree |
| Giant Sequoia | California | 96.37 | Famous for sheer volume |
| Centurion (Mountain Ash) | Tasmania, Australia | 96.0 | Tallest flowering plant |
| Blue Gum (Neeminah Loggerale) | Tasmania | 92.0 | Endemic giant |
| Manna Gum (White Knight) | Tasmania | 91.3 | Rare reserve tree |
The Oldest Living Tree?
- Methuselah (White Mountains, California) is over 4,800 years old, making it one of the oldest single trees still alive.
- Pando aspen colony’s roots are believed to be 80,000 years old.
How Much CO₂ Can These Trees Store?
- General Sherman stores about 250 tonnes of carbon, equal to the annual emissions of 50 average cars.
- Giant Amazon trees play an irreplaceable role in global carbon sequestration, with ongoing studies showing their increased impact each decade.
What Are The Main Threats To These Giants?
- The Gigante Project (2025) found increased mortality of giant trees due to wind, lightning, drought, and disease—all worsened by climate shifts and deforestation.
- Bark beetles and wildfires are major dangers in the US, while illegal logging threatens Asian and Amazonian trees.
FAQ
Q1. Where is the Hyperion tree located?
Hyperion’s exact location in California’s Redwood National Park is secret to protect it from human interference.
Q2. Which tree covers the largest area?
Pando in Utah spans 43 hectares; it’s a clonal organism rather than a single trunk.
Q3. Are big trees common in the tropics?
Tall trees like Yellow Meranti and Mengaris are found in Southeast Asian rainforests, but pose higher risk of illegal logging.
Q4. Why are giant sequoias mainly in California?
The Sierra’s mid-zone climate, with mild temperatures and frequent fire, is ideal for their growth.
Q5. How long can a giant tree live?
Many giants survive for thousands of years if not lost to fire or disease. Methuselah bristlecone pine is over 4,800 years old.
Q6. Can planting big trees help fight climate change?
While they store tons of carbon, planting mixed forests including giants is best for climate action.
