20 Oldest Living Trees in the World with Pictures

Did you know that some trees can live for thousands of years? Trees have the longest lifespan among all species on the planet due to their slow growth systems and ability to repair meristem damages. Scientists also state that trees have an inbuilt mechanism to pause their growth during unfavourable circumstances, which explains their lengthy lifespan. So, how long do you think some trees have survived on the planet? 1000? 2000? Wait! What if we say some of them lived for 6000 years and still exist among us? Yes!

In this article, we have covered a list of 20 Oldest Trees in the World which have defied the laws of nature and cheated death!

List of 20 Oldest Trees in the World with Pictures:

Let us now check out which are the longest and oldest trees in the world:

1. "The Sisters" – Olive Trees of Noah:

The Sisters Olive Trees of Noah are a group of sixteen olive trees which hold the record for being the oldest living trees in the world. These trees exist in the Bcheale town of Lebanon where locals estimate their age to be atleast 5000 years old. Some even say that these trees are living for the past 6000 years although there is no strong evidence to prove the same. The interesting part is that these trees still produce olives, making them the oldest olive trees in the world.

2. Llangernyw Yew:

The Llangernyw tree is one of the oldest yews trees in the world with an estimated age of 4000-5000 years. The tree still exists in the Llangernyw village of North Wales, Great Britain and is given the status of one of the "Fifty Great British trees" by Queen Elizabeth II. While carbon dating yew trees is quite difficult as the core portions get lost with time, the churchyard to which the tree belongs have a certification of its age.

3. Sarv-e Abarkuh:

The Cypress of Abarkuh, locally known as Sarv-e-Abarkuh is estimated to be around 4000-5000 years old, which makes it one of the oldest living tree species in the world. It is also the oldest living forms in Asia. Also known as Zoroastrian Sarv, the Sarv-e-Abarkuh is present in the Abarkuh in Yazd Province of Iran and is said to be planted by Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism. The Cypress tree has a height of 25 meters with 11.5 m perimeter and 18 m width around the branches.

4. Methuselah:

The Methuselah Tree is the world's oldest non-clonal tree with a confirmed age of 4,853 years. It is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine tree which is located in the White Mountains of Inyo County of California. Methuselah is a part of the Methuselah grove which grows at an altitude of 9,500-9,800 feet above sea level. The tree is named after a biblical character called Methuselah who is said to have lived for 900 years and symbolises longevity.

5. Gümeli Porsuğu:

Gümeli Porsuğu is one of the oldest yew trees in the world with an estimated age of 4,115 years. It lives in the Zonguldak district of the Black Sea region in Turkey. After prompt examinations by the local environmental schools, it has been found that this Yew tree dates back to the Bronze age and its prolonged lifespan is due to the favorable conditions like weather and absence of humans. The region where this tree is located is declared as a natural monument of Turkey.

6. The Ancient Yew:

With an estimated age between 2000-3000 years, The Fortingall Yew becomes one of the oldest living trees in Britain. Also called the Ancient Yew, the Fortingall Yew is present in the churchyard of the Fortingal Village, Perthshire in Scotland. The tree is once said to have a humungous trunk measuring 52 feet wide, now measures around 32 feet after splitting into several smaller stems. However, the tree is not under stringent protection by the local authorities and poses a potential threat from human activities.

7. The President:

The President is the fifth-largest living tree on earth with a height of approximately 247 feet and a base width of 27 feet. It is a giant Sequoia tree located in the Sequoia National Park of California, United States. The President is also known as the oldest living sequoia on the planet with an estimated age of 3200 years and is named after the American President Warren G. Harding in 1923. The tree also holds the record for being the oldest redwood tree and the world's 4th largest redwood tree.

8. Patriarca da Floresta:

Patriarca da Floresta is a sacred tree that is located in the Vassununga state park of São Paulo, Brazil. It is a jequitibá-rosa that is estimated to be around 3,000 years old, making it one of the oldest coniferous trees in Brazil. Due to its ancient status and a huge height of 49mts, the tree is given the name "Patriarca da Floresta" which literally translates to "Patriarch of the Forest". It is also one of the widest trees in the forest with a circumference of 16mts, which is about ten people holding hand to hand.

9. General Sherman:

The General Sherman holds the record for being the largest known single-stem tree in the world with a height of 249.9 ft and a ground circumference of 102.6 feet. This giant redwood sequoia is also one of the longest living trees on earth with an estimated age of 2,200 to 2,700 years. The tree, named after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman is located in the Sequoia National Park of California, USA. It continues to grow even now and is in pristine health condition.

10. Kayano Ōsugi:

Kayano Ōsugi or the Great Sugi of Kayano is one of the four sacred Sugi trees located in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The tree measures a whopping 180 ft in length and 38 ft in circumference. It was also declared as one of the oldest living trees in Japan with an estimated age of 2,300 years by Professor Manabu Miyoshi in 1928. The tree, along with the other three sugis are preserved as National Monuments of Ishikawa Prefecture.

11. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi:

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi holds the record for being the oldest living human-planted trees in the world, with a proven age of 2.307 years. The sacred Bo tree located in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura of Srilanka, has a great historical and religious importance due to its association with Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It is known that Sanghamitra, the daughter of King Ashoka brought a branch of the Sacred Bo from India under which Buddha achieved enlightenment and planted here in the 3rd Century B.C.

12. Jōmon Sugi:

The Jōmon Sugi is one of the largest and oldest trees in the world which is located in Yakushima, Japan. This tree belongs to the Yakusagi or Cryptomeria species and measures 83 ft high and 54 ft in circumference. Historians believe that the trees age can range between 2,170 to 7200 years and belongs to the Jōmon period of the Japanese prehistory. The tree was accidentally discovered in 1968 which brought a protected status to Yakushima and opened up tourism opportunities since then.

13. Koca Katran:

Koca Katran literally translates to "Big Old Cedar". It is an ancient cedar tree present in the Antalya Province of Lebanon, Turkey. In 1995, experts estimated the age of the tree to be atleast 2000 years old with dimensions of 82 ft height and 27 feet circumference. This makes Koca Katran one of the oldest and tallest trees in the country. The tree received the status of National Monument of Turkey in 1995.

14. Elia Vouvon:

The Elia Vouvon is an ancient olive tree present in the Ano Vouves village on the Crete Island of Greece. It is regarded as one of the oldest living olive trees in the world which still produces olives. Although the exact age of the tree remains unknown due to the loss of heartwood, scientists estimate that it could be atleast 2000 years old. Elia Vouvon was declared as a protected national monument in 2009 and its branches were used to weave wreaths for 2004 ad 2008 Olympic winners.

15. Castagnu dê Centu Cavaddi:

Castagnu dê Centu Cavaddi literally translates to hundred-Horse Chestnut. The tree gets this name from the legendary tale of Queen of Aragon and her 100 Knights taking shelter under it. Castangnu is an ancient sweet chestnut tree located on the eastern slope of Mount Etna in Sicily. The tree holds a Guinness World Record for having the "Greatest Tree Girth Ever" with a base circumference of 190 ft in 1780. Castagnu is also the world's largest and oldest Chestnut trees in the world with a possible age of 2000-4000 years.

16. Lady Liberty:

Lady Liberty is one of the oldest Bald Cypress trees located in the Big Tree Park in Longwood, Florida. It lies in close vicinity to the biggest and oldest tree in the park – The Senator, which got burned down in 2012. The Lady Liberty now remains as the oldest tree in Florida with an estimated age of 2000 years and also the tallest with a height of 82 feet. It is now well-preserved by the local authorities who learnt a big lesson after the death of The Senator.

17. Tnjri:

Tnjri is an ancient Oriental Plane Tree located in the Skhtorashen de jure village in Armenia. It is estimated to be around 2041 years old, making it one of the longest living trees in the country. Tnjri also has a historical and religious importance as many important saints and poets visited it. The unique aspect of Tnjri is its 44 Sq.mt hollow which can accommodate more than 40 people. The total circumference of the tree is 88 ft and the height is 177 ft, making it one the biggest trees in the world.

18. The Pechanga Great Oak Tree:

The Great Oak is located in the Pechanga province of the Western United States, a land of the indigenous people. It is estimated to be around 850-1500 years old and continues to produce acorns every 2-3 years. The tree is also quite large with a circumference of 20 feet and height of 100 feet, making it one of the largest and oldest oak trees in the world. The branches are spread so wide that many people mistake them to be smaller trees, but are in fact very much a part of the main tree itself.

19. Houkisugi at Nakagawa:

The Houkisugi is an ancient Japanese Cedar tree which is located in the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. The tree is estimated to be around 2000 years old and is one of the oldest trees in the country. It is also one of the biggest trees in Japan with dimensions of 148 feet tall and 39 feet in circumference. Houkisugi is revered in Japan for its ancient status and also for preventing a great fire in 1904 and a landslide in 1972 due to heavy rains in the Tanzawa mountains.

20. Árbol del Tule:

Árbol del Tule is a Montezuma Cypress tree which holds the record for being the tree with the stoutest trunk in the world. The tree has a circumference of 137.8 feet when measured in 2005 and a height of 116 feet. Upon close observation, one can notice the multiple trunks coming out of a single individual tree, which contributes to its magnanimous size. Arbol del Tule is also one of the oldest living Cypress trees in the world with an estimated age between 1200-3000 years.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the 20 Oldest Living Trees on the planet, most of which are experiencing slow death and deterioration due to human activities. These trees are mute spectators to thousands of years of human history and must be safeguarded for future generations to witness their majestic presence.