Finland’s tallest tree, a 47.3-meter-tall European larch, grows in one of Punkaharju’s oldest forest plantations. This giant is over 140 years old. From this signpost, it is only 50 meters to the base of this large tree.

The sufficiency of high-quality timber is a topic of discussion. Is the quality of wood obtained from cultivated forests good enough, or does excessively fast growth compromise wood quality? And is the specialized wood material obtained from old and large-diameter stems utilized for the correct applications?

Finland’s Tallest Tree and its Companions. Finland’s tallest tree has a circumference of three meters and a volume of 9.8 cubic meters. On average, the tree has grown just over 30 centimeters in height per year. In Central Europe, European larches approximately six meters taller than this tree are found. More information about Finland’s tallest tree can be found on the tree’s own information sign.

Finland's tallest trees *)

Species

Height (m)

Diameter (cm)

Locality

European Larch

47,3

96

Savonlinna, Punkaharju

Spruce

45,0

59

Padasjoki, Vesijako

Siberian Larch

44,5

57

Savonlinna, Punkaharju

Douglas Fir

43,0

73

Kouvola, Elimäki

Pine

42,1

58

Joensuu, Lehmo

Siberian Fir

40,3

68

Savonlinna, Punkaharju

Wych Elm

35,8

81

Raasepori, Pohja

Aspen

35,5

59

Savonlinna, Punkaharju

Silver Birch

35,4

67

Kouvola, Elimäki

Oak

32,0

112

Raasepori, Bromarv

*) known in 2025

A low-angle shot looking up towards the sky, showing the trunk and bare branches of Finland's tallest tree, a European Larch in Punkaharju.

Wood quality. Wood is considered good quality when it is well-suited for its intended use. Quality requirements for wood vary depending on the end application. Well-managed and fast-growing forests will continue to provide diverse raw material in terms of quality in the future.

Pine and larch heartwood. As a tree ages, the inner part of the trunk, starting from the pith, transforms into heartwood. In pine and larch, the extractives accumulated in the heartwood make it decay-resistant. Thanks to these natural extractives, timber made from the heartwood of these tree species is long-lasting even in applications exposed to weathering, such as outdoor terraces and pier structures.