Largest living hardwood tree (by weight)

In terms of volume, two genera are neck and neck for the title of largest hardwood tree: the gum trees (Eucalyptus) of Australia and the baobabs (Adansonia) of Africa, both of which are capable of exceeding a wood and bark volume of 400 m3 (14,126 cu ft). But when it comes to mass, Eucalyptus is the outright winner, thanks to a much greater wood density. Currently the most massive eucalypt alive is an E. regnans named Still Sorrow, with an estimated aboveground dry mass of 215 tonnes (237 US tons) and a wood/bark volume of 400 m³ (14,126 cu ft). It stands 84 m (275 ft 7 in) tall and has a girth at breast height of 16 m (52 ft).

Two even larger eucalypts from Tasmania were alive in the 21st century. Another swamp gum, known as El Grande, had a measured trunk and appendage volume of bark and wood of 426 m3 (15,044 cu ft), and an estimated total dry mass of 267 tonnes (294 US tons). While a blue gum (E. globulus), known as the Arve Giant, had a measured volume of 400 m3 (14,126 cu ft) and estimated total dry mass of 233 tonnes (257 US tons). El Grande was accidentally burned and killed in 2003, and Arve Giant was killed in the 2019 Tasmanian bushfires, leaving Still Sorrow in the top spot.

By comparison, the largest living hardwood tree by volume is currently the Sagole Big Tree, a specimen of A. digitata located in Masisi, Vhembe, South Africa. Based on its most recent measurements, Sagole has a base that covers 60.6 m² (652.3 sq ft), a height of 19.8 m (64 ft 11.5 in) and a total wood and bark volume of 414 m³ (14,620 cu ft). Owing to baobabs' super-light wood density (averaging 0.13 g/cm³), however, Sagole's aboveground dry mass is estimated to be a "mere" 54 tonnes (60 US tons), four times less than that of Still Sorrow.

The world’s tallest hardwood tree is also a swamp gum in Tasmania, known as Centurion. Remarkably, its existence was unknown until October 2008, even though it is located just a few kilometres from Tasmania’s famous Tahune Airwalk. When initially climbed in 2009, the height was 99.60 m (326 ft 9.3 in) tall - 100.31 m (329 ft 1.2 in) to the low point of ground and 98.89 m (324 ft 5.3 in) to high point of ground. The most recent confirmed tape drop height was 99.82 m (327 ft 5.9 in), measured in 2014 by Steve Sillett. Ground-based measurements suggest that the tree had surpassed 100 m (328 ft) by 2018. The devastating 2019 Tasmanian bushfires killed many of Tasmania’s largest trees, and the base of Centurion was moderately burned, although the treetop was initially still alive. Despite its superior stature, as of 2014 the tree had an estimated aboveground dry mass of 122 tonnes (135 US tons), considerably below that of the shorter Still Sorrow.

The world 's largest individual tree (by both volume and mass) is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) named General Sherman, located in Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA. The tree is 83.6 m (274 ft 3.3 in) tall and has an aboveground dry mass of 582 tonnes (642 US tons). The bark alone has a dry mass of 48 tonnes (53 US tons), and the tree supports 1.68 tonnes (1.85 US tons) dry mass of leaves. As of 2013, total volume of wood and bark was 1,591 m3 (56,186 cu ft) – 1,389 m3 (49,052 cu ft) of which is in the main trunk. General Sherman is estimated to contain the equivalent of almost 675,000 board feet of timber, enough to make in excess of 5 billion matchsticks.