Hyperion is the world’s tallest known living tree, a coast redwood in California’s Redwood National Park.
Researchers measured Hyperion at 115.92 metres (380.3 feet) in 2006. It belongs to Sequoia sempervirens, the species that includes the tallest trees on Earth. Hyperion grows in a remote area, and its precise location is not publicly disclosed to reduce visitor damage.
The name comes from Hyperion, a Titan in Greek mythology. Hyperion is often confused with General Sherman, a giant sequoia that is the world’s largest tree by volume, not its tallest. Helios was once considered the tallest known tree before Hyperion’s measurement was confirmed.
Coast redwoods can live for centuries and thrive in northern California’s cool, foggy climate. Their height is supported by exceptionally efficient water transport, although gravity and hydraulic limits eventually constrain growth.