Some trees took root before the Roman Empire, the states of classical antiquity, and even the Egyptian pyramids existed. They have survived thousands of years of war, climate shifts, and the disappearance of entire civilizations. Researchers know where the oldest of them, the great Methuselah, stands — and deliberately keep it secret to protect the tree from harm.
Jomon Sugi — at Least 2,000 Years Old
Japan's Yakushima Island is home to the famous Jomon Sugi, the oldest and largest known Japanese cedar. The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates its age at between 2,000 and 7,200 years. Yakushima itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tree's precise age is difficult to establish because of its enormous trunk and unusual growth, but even the lower estimate makes Jomon Sugi one of the oldest trees on the planet. It stands in the island's mountainous interior and can only be reached on foot; the hike takes about ten hours.
Age is not Jomon Sugi's only remarkable feature. Its trunk has a fantastical shape, with deeply folded bark and numerous growths, and the tree is considered one of Yakushima's foremost natural symbols.
Sarv-e Abarkuh — About 4,000 Years Old
In Iran's Yazd Province stands the ancient Sarv-e Abarkuh cypress, regarded as one of Asia's oldest trees. It is estimated to be around 4,000 years old and has long held the status of a national natural monument in Iran.
What makes the cypress particularly remarkable is the place where it has survived. Abarkuh lies in an arid region, so the tree has endured limited moisture for millennia. Its longevity is linked to the characteristics of Mediterranean cypresses, which grow slowly and can remain viable for an exceptionally long time.
Sarv-e Abarkuh is surrounded by legends. Local tradition connects it to Iran's ancient past, so it is seen not merely as a natural feature but as a living monument to history.
The Llangernyw Yew — More Than 4,000 Years Old
An ancient Taxus baccata yew grows in the village of Llangernyw in North Wales. Standing beside St Digain's Church, it is considered one of the oldest trees in Britain. The Welsh government estimates it to be more than 4,000 years old.
The yew has survived for several millennia because it can continually renew parts of its woody structure. Old branches die while new ones continue to grow, and the massive trunk takes on an unusual shape over time.
Growing beside the church, the tree has remained a prominent part of the village landscape for countless generations. Its age means its first shoots emerged long before most of the best-known states of the ancient world existed.
Methuselah — About 4,850 Years Old
In California's White Mountains grows a Great Basin bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva, known by the biblical name Methuselah. Its age is estimated at roughly 4,850 years, making it the world's oldest confirmed living tree.
Methuselah looks nothing like the tree you might imagine after nearly five thousand years of life. It is short and twisted by wind and cold. For this pine, that form is an advantage: sections of the tree can die while others keep living and sustain the organism.
The tree grows at high altitude in a severe climate. Cold, aridity, and poor soil slow the pine's growth but also help protect it from many diseases and pests. US authorities do not reveal Methuselah's exact location, protecting it from damage.
Alerce Milenario — About 5,400 Years Old
A Patagonian cypress named Alerce Milenario grows in Chile's Alerce Costero National Park. It is also known as Gran Abuelo, or "Great-Grandfather." In 2022, researchers used a core sample and computer modeling to estimate its age at about 5,484 years.
The trunk is so massive that a standard borer could not reach its center. Researchers obtained only a partial record of its growth rings, then calculated the remaining age using a mathematical model and growth data from other trees of the same species. By this estimate, Gran Abuelo may be older than Methuselah and rank among the most ancient known living trees on Earth.
The Patagonian cypress is one of the planet's longest-lived species in general. Another known specimen had previously been dated to more than 3,600 years old.
