#oldest tree

May 2026

🌳The main symbol of the Kakheti region and the oldest tree in Georgia — the Plane Tree of Telavi.

According to dendrochronological research, the tree is a little over 900 years old. For centuries, it served as a natural gathering place: beneath its branches people discussed news, made deals, and celebrated holidays.

Today, the tree reaches 46 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter. It is carefully protected and maintained in order to preserve favorable conditions for its survival. The plane tree is fenced off and monitored by video surveillance due to increasing attempts by tourists to break off pieces of bark as souvenirs or carve their initials into it. So I was not able to hug the tree, but I did manage to gently touch the leaves above my head 🍁🫶😊

Olive Tree of Vouves; Crete.

Tree has a trunk 15ft in diameter, likely 2900 years old, based on graveyard found nearby.

This tree likely lived through writing of Iliad, golden age of Athens, rise of Roman Empire and birth of Christ. It still produces olives.

Here's a link!

I looked into this and the oldest living tree is called 'Methuselah' and is 4,765 years old. They had an older one called Prometheus but it got cut down in 1964! By a student who didn't know it was the oldest tree.

Oh and then Methuselah got surpassed in 2012 by the discovery of a nearby tree that is estimated to be more than 5,060 years old! So we do have an extremely old tree. Whats her name?

These trees can live to such old age because they grow very slowly, in unfavorable conditions, and with such slow growth they turn out to be extremely dense. This density makes them resistant to pests! And also if they die, they do it in stages, one part of the tree can die with the other part still surviving. They're still vulnerable to climate change and drought can make a problem for them.

Tane Mahuta, the biggest Kauri tree (45.2m high, up to 2,500yrs old) and Te Matua Ngahere, the oldest and second biggest Kauri tree (29.9m high, up to 4000yrs old).