List of largest giant sequoias

{{Short description|none}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} [[File:General Sherman 1469870071.jpg|thumb|upright|General Sherman Tree, Giant Forest Grove, Sequoia National Park, 2007]] The giant sequoia (''Sequoiadendron giganteum'') is the world's most massive tree,<ref name=Martin2005/><ref name=GSNM2010/> and arguably the largest living organism on Earth.<ref name=NPS2010/> It is neither the tallest extant species of tree (that distinction belongs to the coast redwood),<ref name=Martin2006/><ref name=Ssempervirens2011/> nor is it the widest (that distinction belongs to the African baobab or the Montezuma cypress), nor is it the longest-lived (that distinction belongs to the Great Basin bristlecone pine).<ref name=Plongaeva2011/> However, with a height of {{Convert|286|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}} or more, a circumference of {{Convert|113|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}} or more, an estimated bole volume of up to {{Convert|52500|ft3|m3|order=flip|sp=us}}, and a documented lifespan of 3266 years, the giant sequoia is among the tallest, widest, and longest-lived of all organisms on Earth.

Giant sequoias grow in well-defined groves in California mixed evergreen forests, along with other old-growth species such as California incense cedar. Because most of the neighboring trees are also quite large, it can be difficult to appreciate the size of an individual giant sequoia. The largest giant sequoias are as tall as a 26-story building, and the width of their bases can exceed that of a city street. They grow at such a rate as to produce roughly {{Convert|40|ft3|m3|order=flip|sp=us}} of wood each year, approximately equal to the volume of a 50-foot-tall tree one foot in diameter.<ref name=NPS2009/> This makes them among the fastest growing organisms on Earth, in terms of annual increase in mass.

==Distribution== [[File:General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.jpg|thumb|upright|right|General Grant Tree, General Grant Grove, Kings Canyon National Park, 2007]]

Giant sequoias occur naturally in only one place on Earth—the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, on moist, unglaciated ridges and valleys<ref name=Zinke1994/> at an altitude of {{Convert|2700|to|6900|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}} above mean sea level. There are 65–75 groves of giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada, depending upon the criteria used to define a grove.<ref name=GSNM2010/><ref name=Willard1994/> The northernmost of these groves is Placer County Big Trees Grove in the Tahoe National Forest, Placer County, California,<ref name=Schaffer1998/> while the southernmost grove is Deer Creek Grove in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Tulare County, California.<ref name=Willard1994/> The combined total area of all groves of giant sequoias is approximately {{Convert|35600|acre|ha|order=flip|sp=us}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Ronald|date=1994|title=Giant Sequoia Management in the National Forests of California|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr151/psw_gtr151_27_stewart.pdf}}</ref>

==Fire limits growth== {{anchor|Damaging agents}}

Giant sequoias are in many ways adapted to forest fires. Their bark is unusually fire resistant, and their cones will normally open immediately after a fire.<ref>National Geographic Magazine, December 2012</ref> However, fire is also the most serious damaging agent of giant sequoias. Seedlings and saplings are highly susceptible to death or serious injury by fire. Larger giant sequoias are more resistant to fire damage, due to their thick protective layer of nonresinous bark and elevated crowns. However, repeated fires over many centuries may penetrate the bark and destroy the vascular cambium. Nearly all of the larger trees have fire scars, many of which cover a large area of the base of the tree. Older trees are rarely killed by fire alone, but the resulting structural damage may predispose a tree to collapse and fire scars also provide entry for fungi which may cause root disease and heart rot. The resulting decayed wood is then more easily consumed by subsequent fires. The result of this cycle is further structural weakening of the tree, which may eventually lead to its collapse.<ref name=Weatherspoon1990/>

[[File:Washington Sequoia Tree in Sequoia National Park (distance) July 2023.jpg|thumb|left|upright|In 2023, there is healing/regrowth of the Washington Tree after the fire in 2005]] Fire scars are thought to be the main cause of dead tops. Although lightning strikes rarely kill mature trees, lightning sometimes knocks out large portions of crowns or ignites dead tops. The most common cause of death in mature giant sequoias is toppling, due to weakening of the roots and lower trunk by fire and decay. The extreme weight of the trees coupled with their shallow root systems contributes to this weakening. Other causative factors include wind, water-softened soils, undercutting by streams, and heavy snow loads in the crowns.<ref name=Weatherspoon1990/>

The Washington Tree, located in the Giant Forest Grove in Sequoia National Park provides a good example of the aforementioned phenomenon. This tree was the second-largest tree in the world (only the General Sherman Tree was larger) until September 2003, when the tree lost a portion of its crown as a result of a fire caused by a lightning strike.<ref name=Martin2005/><ref name=Sillett2001/> This reduced its height from nearly {{convert|255|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}} to about {{convert|229|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}}. The structurally weakened tree partially collapsed in January 2005, as the result of a heavy snow load in the remaining portion of its crown; it is now approximately {{convert|115|ft|m|order=flip|sp=us}} tall.<ref name=Martin2005/><ref name=Block2005/>

==Tree measurement== As with other trees, measurement of giant sequoias is conducted using established dendrometric techniques. The most frequent measurements acquired in the field include the height of the tree, the horizontal dimension of its canopy, and its diameter at breast height (DBH). These measurements are then subjected to tree allometry, which employs certain mathematical and statistical principles to estimate the amount of timber volume in a tree.

Calculating the volume of a standing tree is the practical equivalent of calculating the volume of an irregular cone,<ref name=NPS1997/> and is subject to error for various reasons. This is partly due to technical difficulties in measurement, and variations in the shape of trees and their trunks. Measurements of trunk circumference are taken at only a few predetermined heights up the trunk, and assume that the trunk is circular in cross-section, and that taper between measurement points is even. Also, only the volume of the trunk (including the restored volume of basal fire scars) is taken into account, and not the volume of wood in the branches or roots.<ref name=NPS1997/> The volume measurements also do not take cavities into account. For example, while studying sequoia tree canopies in 1999, researchers discovered that the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove was largely hollow.<ref name=Block2005/>

==List of largest giant sequoias by trunk volume== The following table is a list of the largest giant sequoias, all of which are located in California. The table is sorted by trunk volume, ignoring wood in the branches of the tree.

{{Color box|#D3D3D3|border=darkgray}} indicates a giant sequoia that sustained heavy fire damage after its most recent volume estimate.<br /> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Rank ! Name ! Location<ref name=Flint2002/> ! Coordinates ! Height<ref name=Flint2002/> ! Circumference<ref name=Flint2002/> ! Bole<br />Volume<ref name=Flint2002/> ! Comments ! {{abbr|Ref|References}} |- | 1 | General Sherman | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36|34|51|N|118|45|03|W}} | {{Convert|274.9|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|102.6|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|52508|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after William Tecumseh Sherman. | <ref>{{cite gnis|id=260517|name=General Sherman Tree}}</ref><ref name=NPS1997/><ref name=Stephenson2002/> |- | 2<ref group="note" name="Sillett"/> | General Grant Tree | General Grant Grove | {{coord|36|44|53|N|118|58|15|W}} | {{Convert|268.1|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|107.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|46608|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}}<ref group="note" name="Sillett"/> | Named after Ulysses S. Grant; designated as the "Nation's Christmas Tree" since 1926. | <ref>{{cite gnis|id=1667461|name=General Grant Tree}}</ref><ref name=Fischer2003/> |- | 3<ref group="note" name="Sillett"/> | The President | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.57341|-118.75010|format=dms}} | {{Convert|240.9|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|93.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|45148|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}}{{#tag:ref| This table presents giant sequoias sorted by the volume of their trunks. In December 2012, Stephen Sillett announced a measurement of the President tree with a total of {{convert|54000|ft3|m3}} of wood and {{convert|9000|ft3|m3}} of wood in the branches.<ref name=cone>{{cite news|title=Upon further review, giant sequoia tops a neighbor|newspaper=Associated Press|first=Tracie|last=Cone|date=2012-12-01|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2012/12/01/upon-further-review-giant-sequoia-tops-neighbor/K0SwEhJhCqjzxAXX3OBVGK/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223012906/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2012/12/01/upon-further-review-giant-sequoia-tops-neighbor/K0SwEhJhCqjzxAXX3OBVGK/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name=natgeo>{{cite magazine|title=Giant Sequoias|first=David|last=Quammen|magazine=National Geographic|url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/sequoias/quammen-text|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120020431/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/sequoias/quammen-text|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2012}}</ref> Ranked according to the total amount of wood in the tree, the General Sherman tree is first, The President tree is second, and the General Grant tree is third.<ref name=cone/><ref name=natgeo/> General Sherman has {{convert|2000|ft3|m3}} more wood than the President tree.<ref name=cone/>|group="note"|name="Sillett"}} | Named after U.S. President Warren G. Harding. | <ref>{{cite news|title=Giant redwood dedicated to memory of late president|newspaper=National Lumber Bulletin |date=September 7, 1923 |page=13}}</ref> |- | 4 | Lincoln | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.57187|-118.75604|format=dms}} | {{Convert|255.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|98.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|44471|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Abraham Lincoln. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 5 | Stagg | Alder Creek Grove | {{coord|36.19131|-118.61878|format=dms}} | {{Convert|243.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|109.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|42557|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Amos Alonzo Stagg. | <ref name=USFS2010/> |- | 6 | Boole | Converse Basin Grove | {{coord|36|49|26|N|118|56|57|W}} | {{Convert|268.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|113.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|42472|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Franklin A. Boole. The tree has the largest footprint of any living giant sequoia. | <ref name=nps30/> |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 7 | Genesis | Mountain Home Grove | {{coord|36.215119|-118.669395|format=dms}} | {{Convert|253.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|85.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|41897|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Genesis. Heavily damaged by the Castle Fire. | <ref name=Flint1988/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/hsviuuv3/cal-fire-2020-fire-siege.pdf|title=2020 Fire Siege|publisher=Cal Fire|page=82|first1=George III|last1=Morris|first2=Carrie|last2=Dennis}}</ref> |- | 8 | Franklin | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.56771|-118.75864|format=dms}} | {{Convert|223.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|94.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|41280|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Benjamin Franklin. Located near Washington. | <ref name=nps30/> |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 9 | King Arthur | Garfield Grove | {{coord|36.32838|-118.71703|format=dms}} | {{Convert|270.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|104.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|40656|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after King Arthur. Destroyed in the Castle Fire. | <ref name=nps30/><ref>{{cite news|title=Fire Destroyed 10 Percent of World's Giant Sequoias Last Year—Can They Survive Climate Change?|newspaper=Smithsonian Magazine|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fire-destroyed-10-percent-worlds-giant-sequoias-last-year-180977947/|first=Alex|last=Fox|date=2021-06-11}}</ref> |- | 10 | Monroe | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.55710|-118.76939|format=dms}} | {{Convert|247.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|91.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|40104|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after James Monroe, located near Auto Log. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 11 | Robert E. Lee | General Grant Grove | {{coord|36.7480|-118.9711|format=dms}} | {{Convert|254.7|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|88.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|40102|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Robert E. Lee. | <ref name=nps30/> |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 12 | Floyd Otter | Garfield Grove | {{coord|36.32748|-118.71696|format=dms}} | {{Convert|273.1|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|99.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|39562|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Floyd Otter, a former manager of the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Possibly heavy damage from Castle Fire. | <ref name=nps30>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/upload/FINAL-30-Largest-Sequoias.pdf|title=The Largest Giant Sequoias by Trunk Volume|date=December 2012|website=National Park Service - Sequoia and Kings Canyon|access-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101074743/https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/upload/FINAL-30-Largest-Sequoias.pdf|archive-date=2019-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilovetrees.net/king-arthur-dead/|title=King Arthur Dead|first=Sue|last=Cag|work=I Love Trees|date=2021-05-15}}</ref> |- | 13 | John Adams | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.56990|-118.75404|display=dms}} | {{Convert|250.6|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|83.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|38956|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after John Adams, located near Cattle Cabin. | <ref name=nps30/> |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 14 | Ishi Giant | Kennedy Grove | {{coord|36.76143|-118.81062|format=dms}} | {{Convert|248.1|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|105.1|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|38156|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Lost significant trunk volume and over {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height during the 2015 Rough Fire. New volume and height estimates needed to determine the current size of the tree. | <ref name=SFC1/> |- | 15 | Column | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.57824|-118.75450|display=dms}} | {{Convert|243.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|93.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|37295|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Located near Pershing. | <ref name=nps30/> |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 16 | Summit Road | Mountain Home Grove | {{coord|36.22813|-118.67117|format=dms}} | {{Convert|244.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|82.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|36600|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after a nearby road. Possible heavy damage from the Castle Fire. | <ref name=nps30/><ref name=Cag-Mountain-Home>{{Cite web|title=Mountain Home Castle Fire Update|url=https://www.ilovetrees.net/mountain-home-castle-fire/|first=Sue|last=Cag|date=2021-06-25|work=I Love Trees}}</ref> |- | 17 | Euclid | Mountain Home Grove | {{coord|36.22949|-118.67776|format=dms}} | {{Convert|272.7|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|83.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|36122|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Euclid. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 18 | Washington | Mariposa Grove | {{coord|37.51507|-119.59806|format=dms}} | {{Convert|236.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|95.7|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|35901|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | The largest giant sequoia north of Boole. Named after George Washington. Not to be confused with the Washington tree of Giant Forest Grove. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 19 | Pershing | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.57869|-118.75347|format=dms}} | {{Convert|246.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|91.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|35855|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after John J. Pershing. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 20 | Diamond | Atwell Mill Grove | {{coord|36.46343|-118.69740|format=dms}} | {{Convert|286.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|95.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|35292|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named for a large diamond-shaped scar present on the southeastern side of the trunk. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 21 | Adam | Mountain Home Grove | {{coord|36.243404|-118.672651|format=dms}} | {{Convert|247.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|94.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|35017|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Adam. | <ref name=Cook1979/> |- | 22 | Roosevelt | Redwood Mountain Grove | {{coord|36|41|38|N|118|55|08|W}} | {{Convert|260.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|80.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|35013|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Theodore Roosevelt. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 23 | Nelder | Nelder Grove | {{coord|37.44127|-119.59644|format=dms}} | {{Convert|266.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|90.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|34993|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after John A. Nelder. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 24 | Above Diamond (AD) | Atwell Mill Grove | {{coord|36.46477|-118.69341|format=dms}} | {{Convert|242.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|99.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|34706|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Situated just above Diamond, hence the name "AD". | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 25 | Hart | Redwood Mountain Grove | | {{Convert|277.9|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|75.3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|34407|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Michael Hart, who discovered it. | <ref name=gnisHart/><ref name=nps30/> |- | 26 | Grizzly Giant | Mariposa Grove | {{Coord|37|30|12.65|N|119|36|2.39|W}} | {{Convert|209.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|92.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|34005|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Originally named the "Grizzled Giant" by Galen Clark. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 27 | Chief Sequoyah | Giant Forest Grove | {{Coord|36.57379|-118.75|format=dms}} | {{Convert|228.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|90.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|33608|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Sequoyah. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 28 | Methuselah | Mountain Home Grove | {{coord|36.240254|-118.680249|format=dms}} | {{Convert|207.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|95.8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|32897|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Methuselah. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 29 | Great Goshawk | Freeman Creek Grove | | {{Convert|255.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|90.2|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|32783|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | The largest giant sequoia south of Stagg. Named after the Northern goshawk, a hawk native to the Sierra Nevada. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 30 | Hamilton | Giant Forest Grove | {{coord|36.54954|-118.76517|format=dms}} | {{Convert|238.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|82.6|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|32783|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after Alexander Hamilton. | <ref name=nps30/> |- | 31 | Dean | Atwell Mill Grove | {{coord|36.46995|-118.68276|format=dms}} | {{Convert|235.9|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|96.4|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|32333|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Named after a carving of the name "Dean" that was found on a charred area of the trunk by Wendell D. Flint in 1950. | {{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- bgcolor=#D3D3D3 | 32 | Black Mountain Beauty | Black Mountain Grove | {{coord|36.11623|-118.67518|format=dms}} | {{Convert|263.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|76.0|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{Convert|32224|ft3|m3|abbr=on|order=flip|sortable=on}} | Also known as "Black Mountain Shaft". The tree lost significant volume after it burned during the 2017 Pier Fire. New volume estimate needed to determine the current volume of the tree. | <ref name=SFC1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/environment/article/Giant-sequoias-long-survivors-of-the-forest-14432963.php|title=Giant sequoias - long survivors of the forest - succumbing to climate-driven wildfires|date=2019-09-12|website=SFChronicle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> |}

===Notes=== * The trees Named "Franklin", "Column", "Monroe", "Hamilton" and "Adams" were named by Wendell Flint and others. These five are now included on the official map of Giant Forest, where they are all situated. * The Washington Tree (not listed above) was previously arguably the second largest tree with a volume of {{convert|1354.96|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} (although the upper half of its trunk was hollow, making the calculated volume debatable), but after losing the hollow upper half of its trunk in January 2005 following a fire, it is no longer of exceptional size. Some sources leave open the possibility that this tree may have been larger than even General Sherman in the past<ref>Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast. Van Pelt, 2001</ref> * The Hazelwood Tree (not listed above) had a volume of {{convert|1025.86|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} before losing half its trunk in a lightning storm in 2002, if it were still at full size it would currently be the 17th largest giant sequoia on earth. * The largest giant sequoia killed at the hands of man was the Discovery Tree at Calaveras Grove, which was cut down a year after its discovery.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=34120 | title=California Big Trees State Park Historical Marker }}</ref> Another tree nearby, the huge Mother of the Forest, was mortally wounded when its bark was removed to be put on display on the East Coast. * The largest giant sequoia ever recorded, as well as potentially the largest tree which ever lived, was the Father of the Forest from Calaveras Grove. The exceedingly enormous tree collapsed centuries ago, and its still relatively well-preserved remains have turned into a popular tourist attraction. The tree was reportedly over 400 ft tall and 110 ft in circumference when it fell.<ref>Report on the Big Trees of California, United States Forest Service, 1900</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645419/ | title="Father of the Forest", a Giant of Giants--fallen centuries ago--originally 435 ft. High, 110 ft. Cir., Calaveras Grove, Cal | website=Library of Congress | date=January 1902 }}</ref>

==Several of the largest sequoia trees== <gallery mode="packed" heights="160px" widths="140px"> File:General Sherman Tree 2013.jpg|General Sherman (Sequoia National Park) File:General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.jpg|General Grant (Kings Canyon National Park) File:President Tree, Sequoia National Park (July 2023).jpg|The President (Sequoia National Park) File:Lincoln Tree in Sequoia National Park (distance) July 2023.jpg|Lincoln (Sequoia National Park) File:Stagg Tree.jpg|Base of Stagg File:Boole Tree.JPG|Boole File:Genesis tree.jpg|Genesis File:Franklin Sequoia Tree in Sequoia National Park (distance) July 2023.jpg|Franklin (Sequoia National Park) File:King Arthur Tree.jpg|King Arthur File:Sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park (11th largest giant sequoia by trunk volume) June 2022.jpg|11th largest giant sequoia by trunk volume File:Grizzly Giant Sequoia Tree, Yosemite National Park (July 2023).jpg|Grizzly Giant (Yosemite National Park) File:Chief Sequoyah Tree, Sequoia National Park (distance) July 2023.jpg|Chief Sequoyah </gallery>

==Notes== {{reflist|group="note"}}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs= <!-- <ref name=BekaertSequoia>{{cite web|last=Bekaert|first=T|title=The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the biggest tree in the world|work=MonumentalTrees.com|publisher=self-published|location=Ghent, Belgium|year=2011|url=http://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/trees/giantsequoia/giantsequoia/|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=BekaertSherman>{{cite web|last=Bekaert|first=T|title=General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world|work=MonumentalTrees.com|publisher=self-published|location=Ghent, Belgium|year=2011|url=http://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/trees/giantsequoia/biggest_tree_in_the_world/|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref> --> <ref name=Block2005>{{cite news|last=Block|first=M|title=Giant 'Washington Tree' Gets Smaller|work=NPR|date=2005-02-25|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4513582|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Cook1979>{{cite journal|last1=Cook|first1=NW|last2=Dulitz|first2=DJ|title=Measuring the Adam tree, largest Sierra redwood on the Mountain Home State Forest|journal=State Forest Notes|volume=73|issue=January|pages=1–5|year=1979|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/notes/Note73.pdf|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Fischer2003>{{cite news|last=Fischer|first=D|title=Nation's Christmas tree aged 1,650 General Grant in Kings Canyon National Park no young whippersnapper|work=Oakland Tribune|location=Oakland, California|date=2003-12-08|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6974521.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105181149/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6974521.html|archive-date=2012-11-05|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Flint1988>{{cite journal|last1=Flint|first1=WD|last2=Law|first2=M|title=The Genesis Tree|journal=Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest Newsletter|volume=1988|issue=8|pages=1–8|year=1988|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/newsletters/MtnHome/Newsletter_MtnHome_8.pdf|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Flint2002>{{cite book|last=Flint|first=WD|title=To Find the Biggest Tree|edition=1st|publisher=Sequoia Natural History Association|location=Three Rivers, California|year=2002|isbn=978-1-878441-09-6}}</ref>

<ref name=GSNM2010>{{cite web|author=United States Forest Service|title=Welcome to the Giant Sequoia National Monument|work=Sequoia National Forest|publisher=Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest, United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture|location=Porterville, California|year=2010|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/gsnm.html|access-date=2011-08-19|author-link=United States Forest Service}}</ref>

<ref name=Martin2005>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=G|title=Giant sequoia getting shorter: Washington tree has lost 139 feet to fire, winter storms|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|location=San Francisco|date=2005-02-08|url=https://www.sfgate.com/green/article/CALIFORNIA-Giant-sequoia-getting-shorter-2732414.php|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Martin2006>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=G|title=Eureka! New tallest living thing discovered|work=San Francisco Chronicle|location=San Francisco|date=2006-09-07|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Eureka-New-tallest-living-thing-discovered-THE-2552865.php|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=NPS1997>{{cite web|author=National Park Service|title=The General Sherman Tree|work=Sequoia National Park|publisher=National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior|location=Washington, DC|year=1997|url=https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/sherman.htm|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=NPS2009>{{cite web|author=National Park Service|title=The Giant Sequoia: Forest Masterpiece|work=Sequoia and Kings Canyon: Plants|publisher=National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior|location=Washington, DC|year=2009|url=https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/bigtrees.htm|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=NPS2010>{{cite web|author=National Park Service|title=Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias|work=Plan Your Visit|publisher=National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior|location=Washington, DC|year=2010|url=https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/mg.htm|access-date=2011-08-19|author-link=National Park Service}}</ref>

<ref name=Plongaeva2011>{{cite web|last=Earle|first=CJ|title=Pinus longaeva|work=The Gymnosperm Database|publisher=self-published|location=Olympia, Washington|year=2011|url=http://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_longaeva.php|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Schaffer1998>{{cite book|last=Schaffer|first=JP|title=The Tahoe Sierra: a natural history guide to 112 hikes in the northern Sierra|edition=1st|pages=138–42|publisher=Wilderness Press|location=Berkeley, California|year=1998|isbn=978-0-89997-220-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z5CMzEiFKRkC&q=%22placer+county+big+trees%22&pg=PA138}}</ref>

<ref name=Sillett2001>{{cite journal|last1=Sillett|first1=SC|last2=Spickler|first2=JC|last3=Van Pelt|first3=R|title=Crown structure of the world's second largest tree (abstract only)|journal=Madroño|volume=47|issue=2|pages=127–33|year=2001|issn=0024-9637|url=http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20013056947.html}}</ref>

<ref name=Ssempervirens2011>{{cite web|last=Earle|first=CJ|title=Sequoia sempervirens|work=The Gymnosperm Database|publisher=self-published|location=Olympia, Washington|year=2011|url=http://www.conifers.org/cu/se/index.htm|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Stephenson2002>{{cite journal|last=Stephenson|first=NL|title=Estimated Ages of Some Large Giant Sequoias: General Sherman Keeps Getting Younger|journal=Sierra Nature Notes: The Online Journal of Natural History News in the Sierra Nevada|volume=2|issue=1|year=2002|url=https://sierranaturenotes.yosemite.ca.us/SequoiaAges.htm|access-date=2021-12-01}}</ref>

<ref name=USFS2010>{{cite web|author=United States Forest Service|title=Alder Creek Grove|work=Giant Sequoia Groves|publisher=Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest, United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture|location=Porterville, California|year=2010|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/recreation/giant_sequoia_groves.html#alder_creek|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Weatherspoon1990>{{Silvics |last=Weatherspoon|first=C. Phillip |volume=1 |genus=Sequoiadendron |species=giganteum}}</ref>

<ref name=Willard1994>{{cite web|last=Willard|first=D|title=The Natural Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) Groves of the Sierra Nevada, California-An Updated Annotated List|publisher=USDA Forest Service|year=1994|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr151/psw_gtr151_28_willard.pdf|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

<ref name=Zinke1994>{{cite report|last1=Zinke|first1=PJ|last2=Stangenberger|first2=AG|title=Soil and Nutrient Element Aspects of Sequoiadendron Giganteum (General Technical Report PSW-151)|publisher=USDA Forest Service|pages=69–77|year=1994|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr151/psw_gtr151_11_zinke.pdf|access-date=2011-08-19}}</ref>

}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book|last=Cook|first=LF|title=The Giant Sequoias of California|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1955|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cook/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703065314/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/cook/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2007}} * {{cite book|last1=Dilsaver|first1=LM|last2=Tweed|first2=WC|title=Challenge of the big trees:a resource history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks|edition=1st|publisher=Sequoia Natural History Association|location=Three Rivers, California|year=1990|isbn=978-1-878441-00-3|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/dilsaver-tweed/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703044730/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/dilsaver-tweed/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2007}} * {{cite book|last1=Otter|first1=FL|last2=Dulitz|first2=DJ|last3=Otter|first3=JI|last4=Otter|first4=MK|title=The history of a giant sequoia forest: the story of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest|publisher=self-published|location=Springville, California|year=2007|isbn=978-0-9614459-3-5}} * {{cite journal|last=Swetnam|first=TW|author-link=Thomas W. Swetnam|title=Fire History and Climate Change in Giant Sequoia Groves (abstract)|journal=Science|volume=262|issue=5135|pages=885–9|year=1993|pmid=17757357|doi=10.1126/science.262.5135.885|s2cid=43064334|url=https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.262.5135.885|url-access=subscription}}

==External links== *{{commons-inline}}

Category:Individual giant sequoia trees Sequoiadendron Sequoiadendron Giant sequoias, Largest Sequoiadendron Sequoiadendron Giant sequoias, Largest Sequoias Giant sequoias