The world’s tallest tree is a 116m (380ft) redwood in California, USA. Scientists think it comes close to the maximum height a tree can grow.
Trees grow very tall when water and nutrients are plentiful and there is intense competition for sunlight. But as they grow, gravity gets stronger. Plants and trees carry water to their leaves for photosynthesis in a tube called the xylem.
If there isn’t enough water, or gravity is very strong, this water column can break, creating potentially deadly air bubbles. This places an upper limit on tree height, which theoretically lies somewhere between 122m and 130m (400-426ft).
Read more:
- Why do trees have such shallow root systems?
- Why have trees evolved such a variety of leaf shapes?
- How do trees grow straight up, even on a slope?
- Can trees predict the weather?
Asked by: Lawrence Hancock, Cumbria
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