There’s a theoretical limit to how tall a tree can grow, and it’s about 426 feet (130 meters).

Why? Because trees rely on capillary action and water tension to pull water up from their roots to their leaves. At a certain height, gravity overcomes the tree’s ability to transport water effectively, causing water columns to break and leading to air bubbles (embolism) in their vascular system. The tallest known tree, Hyperion, is a redwood in California, is 379.7 feet (115.9 meters).

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