Top 10 Tallest Trees in the World
The world’s tallest trees are natural marvels, towering over forests and creating impressive canopies that provide essential habitats for countless species. These giants are primarily located in specific parts of the world, like the coastal forests of California and Tasmania, where environmental conditions like moisture, soil quality, and lack of disturbances allow them to reach astounding heights. Ranked by verified maximum height in meters and feet, this list includes trees from species renowned for their extraordinary vertical growth, such as redwoods, eucalyptus, and Douglas firs. Ranking criteria are based on the maximum recorded height of each tree species, with measurements taken from known individual trees. Some species may have outliers due to mutations or other environmental factors, but this list represents the tallest verified specimens from each species.
| Rank | Tree | Height | Species | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyperion | 115.85 | Coast Redwood | Redwood National Park, California, USA |
| 2 | Centurion | 100.5 | Mountain Ash | Tasmania, Australia |
| 3 | Doerner Fir | 99.8 | Douglas Fir | Coos County, Oregon, USA |
| 4 | Raven’s Tower | 96.7 | Sitka Spruce | Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California, USA |
| 5 | Unnamed (Karri Eucalyptus) | 90.7 | Karri Eucalyptus | Western Australia |
| 6 | Yellow Meranti | 89.5 | Shorea faguetiana | Sabah, Borneo |
| 7 | White Knight | 87.9 | Alpine Ash | Tasmania, Australia |
| 8 | Nehemiah | 85.3 | Manna Gum | Tasmania, Australia |
| 9 | The Goth Tree | 83.8 | Coast Douglas Fir | Pacific Northwest, USA |
| 10 | King Stringy | 82.3 | Stringybark | Tasmania, Australia |
Hyperion
Rank: 1
Height: 115.85
Hyperion, a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) discovered in Redwood National Park in California, is the world’s tallest known tree, standing at 115.85 meters (380.1 feet). Identified in 2006, this majestic redwood grows in a remote area, hidden from public view to prevent ecological disruption. Coast redwoods thrive in the moist, foggy climate along California’s coast, where they face little competition for sunlight and benefit from nutrient-rich soil. These redwoods are some of the oldest living organisms on Earth, with lifespans reaching up to 2,000 years.
Did you know? The exact location of Hyperion is kept secret to protect it from foot traffic and erosion that could harm its root system.
Centurion
Rank: 2
Height: 100.5
Centurion, a mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) in Tasmania, Australia, is the tallest known angiosperm (flowering plant) globally, measuring 100.5 meters (330.7 feet). Discovered in 2008, Centurion holds the record for the tallest eucalyptus and thrives in the temperate rainforests of Tasmania, where heavy rainfall and fertile soil provide ideal growth conditions. This eucalyptus species is highly fire-resistant, a trait essential to surviving in fire-prone areas, allowing it to reach impressive heights.
Did you know? Centurion’s survival through multiple fires is partly due to the protective thick bark common in eucalyptus trees.
Doerner Fir
Rank: 3
Height: 99.8
Located in Coos County, Oregon, the Doerner Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is the tallest known Douglas fir, standing at 99.8 meters (327.5 feet). This conifer species is native to the Pacific Northwest and known for its durability and high-quality timber. Douglas firs are resilient trees capable of withstanding harsh weather, making them a prominent species in North American forests. The Doerner Fir, in particular, resides in a protected area, helping it escape the logging industry’s impact on these trees.
Did you know? Douglas fir wood is used in construction and furniture-making due to its strength and natural resilience.
Raven’s Tower
Rank: 4
Height: 96.7
Raven’s Tower, a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) in California’s Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, reaches 96.7 meters (317.2 feet). The tree’s height is attributed to the wet, temperate environment of the Pacific Northwest, where Sitka spruces flourish in coastal fog. These trees are essential for stabilizing the soil in their habitat and are popular for their lightweight, strong wood, often used in aircraft and musical instruments.
Did you know? Sitka spruce wood was a vital material in early aircraft construction due to its strength-to-weight ratio.
Unnamed (Karri Eucalyptus)
Rank: 5
Height: 90.7
This towering Karri eucalyptus (Eucalyptus diversicolor), located in Western Australia, stands at 90.7 meters (297.6 feet). Karri trees are among the tallest hardwoods and play a vital ecological role in their region, providing habitats for unique wildlife. These trees grow tall quickly due to the abundant rainfall and temperate climate in the southwest corner of Australia, where they dominate the forest landscape.
Did you know? Karri trees produce smooth, light-colored bark that sheds in large patches, creating a striking visual appearance.
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Yellow Meranti
Rank: 6
Height: 89.5
The tallest tropical tree on record, a yellow meranti (Shorea faguetiana), stands 89.5 meters (293.6 feet) tall in Borneo’s Sabah region. Yellow meranti trees thrive in rainforests and are crucial to the ecosystem, hosting a variety of wildlife species. However, this species is endangered due to logging, as meranti wood is highly prized in the lumber industry. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect these massive trees and their habitats.
Did you know? Yellow meranti trees can take hundreds of years to reach their towering heights.
White Knight
Rank: 7
Height: 87.9
White Knight, an alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) in Tasmania, is a stunning example of tall eucalyptus species, reaching 87.9 meters (288.4 feet). Alpine ash trees are common in highland forests and can endure cooler temperatures than other eucalyptus species. White Knight is part of a forest region noted for its natural beauty, drawing attention from researchers and conservationists alike.
Did you know? Alpine ash is among the fastest-growing trees, capable of reaching over 70 meters (230 feet) in just 50 years.
Nehemiah
Rank: 8
Height: 85.3
Nehemiah, a manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) in Tasmania, is one of the tallest eucalyptus trees, standing at 85.3 meters (279.9 feet). Manna gums are adaptable and thrive in a range of environments, from open forests to sheltered valleys. These trees play an important ecological role, offering shelter and food for many species, particularly koalas, who feed on their leaves.
Did you know? The “manna” in manna gum refers to a sugary substance secreted by the tree, traditionally collected as food by Indigenous Australians.
The Goth Tree
Rank: 9
Height: 83.8
The Goth Tree is a prominent Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) located in the Pacific Northwest, measuring 83.8 meters (274.9 feet). Douglas firs are known for their resilience and versatility, growing in a variety of soil types and climates. They’re also a crucial part of the logging industry due to their dense, strong wood. The Goth Tree, however, has been preserved in a protected forest area, allowing it to reach its maximum height.
Did you know? Douglas fir cones have distinctive three-pronged bracts that resemble a mouse's tail and hind legs.
King Stringy
Rank: 10
Height: 82.3
The King Stringy is an impressive stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) in Tasmania, reaching a height of 82.3 meters (270.1 feet). Known for their thick, rough bark, stringybark trees are fire-resistant and valuable for their timber. King Stringy stands out in the Tasmanian forest and serves as an important part of the ecosystem, providing habitats for various wildlife.
Did you know? Stringybark trees get their name from their distinctive, fibrous bark, which peels off in long strips.
