The region of the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram that extends diagonally to the upper right of the main sequence, containing giant stars. The giant branch ranges from stars with a surface temperature similar to the Sun’s, but a luminosity some 30 times greater, to cooler but even more luminous stars. Giants greater than about 1 solar mass are separated from the main sequence by the Hertzsprung gap. Lower-mass giants are, however, linked to it by a subgiant branch.