The oldest trees in the world
The top 3 according to 77 votes from people: Methuselah · Llangernyw Yew · Pando. (Updated May 18, 2025.)
A bristlecone pine nearly 5,000 years old, a Swedish spruce that has cloned itself for almost 10,000 years and an aspen grove sharing one ancient root system: the oldest trees on Earth. Which one would you like to visit?
Top 10
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1
Methuselah
A Great Basin bristlecone pine in California's White Mountains, over 4,800 years old; its exact location is secret.
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2
Llangernyw Yew
A yew in a Welsh churchyard, estimated at 4,000 to 5,000 years old.
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3
Pando
A grove of quaking aspens in Utah that share a single, ancient root system.
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4
Old Tjikko
A Norway spruce in Sweden whose root system is about 9,500 years old.
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5
Sarv-e Abarqu
A cypress in Iran, about 4,000 years old.
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6
Gran Abuelo
A Patagonian cypress (alerce) in Chile, more than 3,600 years old.
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7
Jōmon Sugi
The great cedar of Yakushima island in Japan.
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8
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
The sacred fig of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, planted over 2,300 years ago.
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9
Prometheus
A bristlecone pine in Nevada about 4,900 years old, cut down in 1964.
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10
Patriarca da Floresta
A jequitibá tree in Brazil, about 3,000 years old.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (1)
The fact that they keep Methuselah's exact location secret is the best part. Imagine walking past a 4,800 year old tree without knowing.