Canada’s largest trees are found in B.C. and they’re over a thousand years old

It’s no secret that the temperate rainforests of B.C. are home to some of the largest trees on Earth – both by height and by width. Between the high amount of rainfall and the region’s 12-month growing season, a range of old-growth species have been able to prosper.

According to the Ancient Forest Alliance, Sitka spruces, Douglas firs, and western redcedars can grow to staggering heights in B.C., living to be more than a thousand years old.

The world’s largest-known Douglas Fir (Red Creek Fir), Redcedar (The Cheewhat Giant), and Canada’s largest spruce (San Jo’s Smiley) are all found on Vancouver Island. So if you’re a big tree enthusiast like we are, it might be time to plan a weekend trip to the Island.

Largest known trees in Canada

According to the Ancient Forest Alliance, the tallest known tree in Canada is a Sitka Spruce standing at 96 metres high (315 feet), known as the Carmanah Giant.

However, the widest tree is a Redcedar called the Cheewhat Giant, which measures roughly 6 metres (20 feet) in diameter and is situated near the town of Youbou, according to the B.C. BigTree Registry.

What’s more, the Cheewhat Giant is listed as the highest-scoring tree in the registry, with a “Tree Score” of 917.

Compiled by UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, the registry lists all the record-breaking trees in the province, scoring each type of tree based on height (Ht.), diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown spread (Cr.)

The overall Tree Score is used to rank those listed in order of circumference and crown spread. Since tree species can vary greatly in potential size, this score is the most meaningful when compared within and not between species.

The Cheewhat Giant remains protected at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Ready to explore some of the world’s largest trees? The Ancient Forest Alliance has mapped out those growing in the Port Renfrew area, and now is the perfect time of year to plan a visit.

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