Which tree is the world’s largest single-stem tree by volume?

General Sherman is the world’s largest single-stem tree by volume.

This giant sequoia grows in California’s Sequoia National Park, in the Giant Forest. Measurements of its trunk and branches give it a volume of about 1,487 cubic metres, although the exact figure changes as the tree grows and as scientists refine their measurements. It is not the tallest tree and not the oldest known tree.

General Sherman is a Sequoiadendron giganteum, or giant sequoia. The species is famous for immense trunk volume, thick fire-resistant bark, and great longevity. The tree is named after American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman; the name was reportedly given in the 1870s.

A common mix-up is comparing different records as though they measure the same thing. Hyperion is taller, while bristlecone pines are older. General Sherman’s distinction is the greatest known volume for a single tree stem, making it a particularly useful benchmark in tree records.