臺灣特有種樹木，是全球唯一以「臺灣」的拉丁文發音當作屬名的植物。它的樹形壯碩，樹幹高聳入雲，是東亞及臺灣島上最高的樹種，在臺灣發現最高的一株有72.9公尺高，魯凱族的原住民稱它為「撞到月亮的樹」。主要生長於中海拔的山區，是從冰河時期存活至今的樹種，與臺東蘇鐵、臺灣穗花杉、臺灣海棗並稱為「臺灣四大奇木」。

Endemic to Taiwan, Cryptomeria-like Taiwania is the only plant in the world that uses the Latin pronunciation of "Taiwan" as its genus name. With a sturdy tree shape and a towering trunk, it’s the tallest tree species in East Asia and Taiwan island. The tallest one found in Taiwan is 72.9 meters tall which is nicknamed "a tree that hits the moon." by Rukai people. Mainly growing in mountainous areas at mid-elevation levels, the species has survived since the ice age. It is classified as "Taiwan's Four Wonderful Trees" together with Taitung cycad, Taiwan catkin-yew, and Taiwan Date Palm.

臺灣杉屬常綠大喬木，臺灣原生種，中國華中、華南各省與緬甸、越南亦有零星分佈，是以臺灣為屬名的植物。樹幹筆直，高可達50m以上，是亞洲最高的樹種之一；樹枝水平伸展，小枝柔軟下垂。葉呈2型，老樹之葉鑽形；幼樹及萌生枝上之葉的兩側為扁的四稜鑽形。雌雄同株，雄花5~7枚，密生於小枝先端；雌花頂生，球形或橢圓形。毬果球形或卵形。種子有翅，長橢圓形。

An evergreen large tree in the genus Taiwania, native to Taiwan, sparsely distributed in provinces of Central and South China and Myanmar, Vietnam. The erect trunk can be up to 50m in height, one of the tallest tree species in Asia; the branches are horizontally stretched with soft and sagging branchlets. There are two kinds of leaf shapes, leaves of old trees are awl-shaped, and that of saplings and sprouting branches are flat quadrangular awl. Monoecious, 5 to 7 male flowers, densely grown in the apex of branchlets; female flowers terminal, globose or ellipsoid. Cones are globose or ovate. Seeds are winged and oblong.

適合全日照或半日照潮濕環境，淺根性，側根和鬚根發達，多集中於80cm深的土層中，介質需富含有機質。幼樹稍耐陰，在全光照條件下生長比較迅速。種子繁殖為主，亦可扦插。

The plant grows well in full-sun or partial sun and humid environments, shallow rooted, with vigorous lateral and fibrous roots, mostly concentrated in the layer of 80 cm-deep soil. The medium needs to be rich in organic matter. Saplings are slightly shade-tolerant and grow faster under full-sun conditions. Propagated mainly by seeding and followed by cutting.

可作庭園景觀樹，木材可做家俱、建築及做紙漿用。與臺灣肖楠、臺灣扁柏、紅檜、香杉齊名，合稱臺灣針葉五木。

A great garden landscape tree. The timber can be used in construction, making furniture and paper pulp. It’s listed in Taiwan’s top 5 coniferous trees which are Taiwan Yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa var formosana), Taiwan Red Cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis ), Taiwan Incense Cedar (Calocedrus formosana) and Konishi-fir (Cunninghamia konishii).