The tree that stood the test of time
Across the globe, there are few things that have stood the test of time as the world has changed around them. Our most treasured inventions and historic buildings often spring to mind - but there are also so many natural wonders that we often take for granted or don’t know much about.
Among the longest-living life forms on Earth, trees have watched over our landscapes for generations, not only providing shelter, shade and the air we breathe, but becoming landmarks known to millions through time. From stunning oaks to ancient yews, some date back thousands of years to when civilisation looked very different.
But have you ever been curious as to which tree is the oldest in the world and where is it located? Here, BBC Bitesize takes a closer look at the oldest named individual tree in the world and how it has survived so long.
What is the oldest tree in the world?
Located in the White Mountains of California, USA, is the oldest named individual tree – a Great Basin bristlecone pine named Methuselah. The tree was named after biblical patriarch Methuselah, grandfather of Noah, who was known for his phenomenal lifespan and being the longest-living figure in the Bible, living for 969 years.
The Methuselah tree was found in the 1950s by Dr Edmund Schulman. It holds the record for the world’s oldest non-clonal tree with a confirmed age. This means it grew as one single entity and is not part of a clonal colony – which is a group of genetically identical trees that through a shared root system are connected.
Methuselah has shown remarkable endurance, but there is another in the same area, which remains unnamed that is said to be older.
How old is the oldest tree in the world?
Core samples of Methuselah were taken in 1957 and in later years, dendrochronologist Tom Harlan at the University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research cross-dated and confirmed the tree to be more than 4800 years old.
However, in 2009, Harlan also cross-dated an even older specimen of bristlecone sampled by Schulman in the White Mountains before he died. The sample came from a living tree which is unnamed and is said to be more than 5000 years old – making it the oldest verified living tree in the world.
Prior to Methuselah, the record holder was another bristlecone pine named Prometheus, which was estimated to be nearly 5000 years old when it was controversially cut down in 1964 by graduate student Donald Rusk Currey, while he was conducting a study of trees in the area. The name Prometheus comes from the titan of the same name who in Greek myth gave knowledge of fire to mankind.
Why is its location protected?
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is in California’s White Mountains. However, the precise location of the oldest named tree and the verified, older unnamed tree in the area is kept a secret and for decades, no photos of the specific trees were shared.
This was to ensure they stay protected, from any damage or vandalism – but in 2021, Methuselah’s location became more widely known online when photos were leaked, enabling people to pinpoint its location. In recent years, particularly in the UK, the significance and protection of our oldest trees have come back in the spotlight.
Back in September 2023, one of the most photographed trees in England - Northumberland's Sycamore Gap - was deliberately cut down, leaving people across the country and beyond devastated. A famous landmark, it had stood tall for about 300 years in a natural dip in the landscape alongside Hadrian's Wall.
In 2025, two men were jailed for illegally cutting down the tree and damaging Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected monument. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were both sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
Why has it lived so long?
The Great Basin bristlecone pine is believed to be the oldest living species in the world. You’ll find these trees growing in the higher mountains of California, Nevada and Utah in America.
But how do they live so long? With an impressive life expectancy spanning generations, their longevity is down to the harsh conditions they grow in. In these conditions, the trees grow very slowly, making them dense and as a result, this helps to protect them from rot, insects and fungi.
What is the oldest tree in the UK?
The UK is full of many incredible, historic trees that have seen life change around them and have become landmarks in their own right. Although, there is a lot of debate about which is the oldest.
Many believe the oldest single entity tree in the UK to be the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire, Scotland. Standing within Fortingall Churchyard, the yew is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, but some suggest the ancient tree is much older than this.
This article was written in November 2025
