We’ve discussed the tallest and the deadliest, and now it’s time for the oldest. Some of the oldest living organisms on the planet are trees. The ones on this list were all well into maturity before Christ (b.c.), and have survived through unimaginable changes that have taken place throughout the world since. Here are six of the Earth’s oldest living trees, and an honorary seventh (you’ll find out why it’s honorary later).

1. The World’s
Oldest Trees

2. Methuselah
Somewhere in the Inyo National Forest in
California resides the oldest living tree in the
world. At a truly ancient 4,841 years old, the
bristlecone pine known as Methuselah (possibly
pictured above) has an undisclosed location to
protect it from the public. An even older
specimen used to exist there as well, named
Prometheus. It was cut down at 4,900 years old
back in 1964 with the U.S. Forest Service’s
permission.
By Wilson44691 - Own work, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4478956
● Methuselah is located between 2,900 and 3,000 m above sea level in
the "Methuselah Grove" in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest within
the Inyo National Forest.
● Its exact location has not been publicly disclosed.
● Methuselah was 4,789 years old when it was tested over 50 years
ago by Edmund Schulman and Tom Harlan, estimating the
germination date to 2833 BCE. Methuselah was for many years
considered the world's oldest living tree, until 2012 when an older
bristlecone pine was discovered and later announced in 2013.
Bummer Methuselah

3. Llangernyw Yew
In the small courtyard of St. Dygain’s Church
in the Llangernyw village of north Wales lives
a 4,000 year-old yew tree. It’s still growing
today after being planted way back in the
prehistoric Bronze Age. More recently, the
Llangernyw Yew was named one of 50 Great
British trees as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s
golden jubilee.
By Emgaol - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10076334
According to local tradition, the church of Llangernyw is inhabited by an
ancient spirit known as Angelystor (the "Recording Angel" or "Evangelist"
in Welsh).
This tradition holds that every year at Halloween a booming voice
foretells the names of parishioners who will die the following year.
Folklore tells of a disbelieving local man, Siôn Ap Rhobert, who
challenged the existence of the spirit one Halloween night only to hear
his own name called out, followed by his death within the year.
- From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llangernyw_Yew

4. Sarv-e Abarqu
A cypress tree also known “Zoroastrian Sarv,”
Sarv-e Abarqu has been growing in Iran’s Yazd
province for at least 4,000 years. It’s
considered an Iranian National Monument due
to the fact that it may very we’ll be the oldest
living thing in Asia, surviving through the dawn
of human civilization not too far away.
By TruthBeethoven - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19259985 It is estimated to be over four millennia old and is likely the
second-oldest living thing in Asia.The next oldest tree of its type is
the 4,845-year-old bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) in the Great
Basin of California.Although not named or officiated, another
bristlecone pine also in the Great Basin of California was
announced to be 5,062-years-old.
- From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarv-e_Abarkuh.

5. Alerce
Native to the Andes mountains in South America, The
Alerce is a sky-scraping tree species believed to be the
second-longest living trees on earth (just behind the
North American bristlecone pine). Unfortunately,
because many Alerce were logged in the 19th and 20th
centuries, there’s really no telling how old this species
can get. The oldest known living tree of this kind,
commonly referred to as Fitzroya cupressoides, is
3,640 years old.
By Fernando Bórquez, subida a Commons por Lin linao - Cedida por el autor, CC BY-SA
3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1004178
F. cupressoides is the largest tree species in South America,
normally growing to 40–60 m, but occasionally more than 70 m in
Argentina, and up to 5 m in trunk diameter. Its rough pyramidal
canopy provides cover for the southern beech, laurel and myrtle. The
largest known living specimen is Alerce Milenario in Alerce Costero
National Park, Chile. It is more than 60 m tall, with a trunk diameter
of 4.26 m. Much larger specimens existed before the species was
heavily logged in the 19th and 20th centuries; Charles Darwin
reported finding a specimen 12.6 m in diameter. - From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzroya

6. Olive Tree of Vouves
On the Grecian island of Crete grows an ancient olive
tree believed to be more than 3,000 years old– and it
still produces olives. The Olive Tree of Vouves is the
oldest of seven in the Mediterranean region that are
between 2,000 and 3,000+ years old. Their longevity
can be credited to hardiness and resistance to drought,
disease, and fire. The olives produced by this tree are
highly prized as one would expect.
By Dennis koutou - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15308259
The exact age of the tree cannot be determined. The use of
radioisotopes is not possible, as its heartwood has been lost
down the centuries, while tree ring analysis demonstrated the
tree to be at least 2000 years old. and on the other end of the
scale, scientists from the University of Crete have estimated
it to be 4,000 years old.
-From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_tree_of_Vouves

7. Patriarca da Floresta
The Patriarca da Floresta (loosely translated
as “father of the forest”) is a 3,000 year-old
Cariniana legalis located in Brazil. It is
considered to be the oldest non-conifer in the
country. Because its species is widely
threatened by deforestation in Brazil,
Venezuela and Colombia, this particular tree
is now sacred to Brazilian conservationists.
By mauroguanandi - originally posted to Flickr as Jequitiba (1000 years)
Serra da Araras RJ Brazil, CC BY 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6609801
Cariniana legalis is a species of woody plant in the Lecythidaceae family. It is found
in south-eastern Brazil, where is known as jequitibá-branco or jequitibá-rosa,
possibly Colombia, and possibly Venezuela.
One of the biggest trees in the Atlantic Forest, there are some old trees in Santa Rita
do Passa Quatro and near Petrópolis. One of these trees is more than 3 000 years
old.
It is threatened by habitat loss. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cariniana_legalis

8. The Senator
In Florida there once lived a 3,500 year-old bald cypress,
which is the honorary old tree on our list. It was called “The
Senator” because it was donated to the state by Sen. M.O.
Overstreet back in 1927. Although, it has likely had many
names as it was used by the Seminoles and other natives
as a landmark. It was believed to be the largest U.S. tree
east of the Mississippi River and the oldest bald cypress in
existence. It endured many hurricanes, but we use the past
tense here because, unfortunately, a 26-yr-old woman
burned The Senator to the ground in 2012.
By Jonclift - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18166965
The Senator was the biggest and oldest bald cypress[1] tree in the world,
located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida. At the time of its demise, it was
125 feet (38 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet (5.3 m). The tree was
thought to have been destroyed by a fire from a lightning strike,[2] but it was
later discovered that the fire was started by 26-year-old Sara Barnes.[3]
- From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Senator_(tree)

9. Thanks for reading!
While the trees in your yard may not be ancient, there are many in our highly-forested
region that are of significant age and size. Mature trees deserve special care. So, if you
have an old tree please get the help of a certified arborist to keep it healthy. Call
Inexpensive Tree Care today.