9 Oldest Trees in the World

15th February, 2024

CHIRANJIT MITRA

Great Basin Bristlecone Pines (California, USA)

● Oldest Individual: Named Methuselah, approximately 4,855 years old (as of 2023). Location: The location is undisclosed in the White Mountains to protect this ancient tree.

Pando (Utah, USA)

● Type: Quaking Aspen – a vast clonal colony interconnected by a single root system. ● Estimated Age: Approximately 80,000 years old, making it one of the world's oldest organisms.

Alerce (Chile)

● Also known as the Patagonian Cypress, the estimated age for this species exceeds 3,600 years. 'Gran Abuelo' Individual: One of the most well-known specimens, estimated around 3,646 years old.

Giant Sequoias (California, USA)

● Famous General Sherman Tree: It is not the oldest but is the largest tree by volume (around 2,200 - 2,700 years old). ● Older Sequoias: Some individuals are believed to be over 3,000 years old.

Olive Trees (Mediterranean Region)

● Olive Tree of Vouves (Crete): It could be among the oldest in the world, possibly over 3,000 years old. ● Many Old Specimens: Ancient olive trees hold cultural and historical significance throughout the Mediterranean.

Jomon Sugi  (Japan) 

● Japanese Cedar is located on Yakushima Island; its exact age is debated. ● Estimates Range: From 2,000 to possibly over 7,000 years old.

Llangernyw Yew (Wales)

● This ancient yew has multiple trunks arising from an original core. ● Estimated Age: Around 4,000 - 5,000 years old.

Sarv-e Abarkuh (Iran)

● Mediterranean cypress, native to Iran, is often claimed to be over 4,000 years old. ● Exact Age Difficult: Estimating the accurate age for these complex trees is challenging.

Old Tjikko (Sweden)

● Norway spruce with a root system was around 9,550 years old. ● Individual Trunk Younger: Current visible growth is newer but part of an ancient clonal system.