Sequoiadendron is the plant genus that contains the giant sequoia, the tree with the greatest volume of any single tree.
The giant sequoia is Sequoiadendron giganteum, a conifer native to groves on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada. The largest known individual by volume is General Sherman, whose trunk volume is commonly estimated at about 1,487 cubic metres. That measurement is different from height: coast redwoods are taller, while giant sequoias are broader and more massive.
Only one living species is currently placed in Sequoiadendron. The genus name is easy to confuse with Sequoia, the genus of coast redwoods, and Metasequoia, the genus of dawn redwoods. Giant sequoias have thick, fibrous bark and rely partly on periodic fire to open cones and create suitable conditions for seedlings.