The oldest tree in the world: Meet ‘Methuselah,’ a literal hidden gem.

Trees tell stories. Scientists count their rings to determine their age, and these years signify nature’s resilience in the face of change.

Trees that have weathered extreme conditions, pests, diseases, and human interactions offer valuable lessons for protecting future forests. In Florida, a southern live oak called “Big Tree” is over 400 years old. Despite being struck by lightning three times and surviving multiple hurricanes, it remains healthy enough that a Michigan non-profit is trying to clone it.

What is the oldest tree?

According to Guinness World Records, the bristlecone pines in California’s White Mountains are the oldest tree species, scientifically known as “Pinus longaeva.”

The world’s oldest living tree, named “Methuselah,” is believed to be nearly 5,000 years old, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Dendrochronologist Edmund Schulman discovered and named Methuselah in 1957, after the biblical figure said to have lived over 900 years. Previously, a tree named “Prometheus” was cut down in 1964 by a geographer with Forest Service permission, only to be later identified as about 4,900 years old.

Bristlecone pines are known as “extremeophiles” because they grow slowly and endure harsh conditions, including cold temperatures, high winds, dry soils, and short growing seasons, as noted by the USDA. They have adapted a “sectored architecture,” meaning each root supports only the part of the tree above it. If one root dies, only that section dies, allowing the rest of the tree to continue growing around the dead parts, according to the National Park Service.

Is the oldest tree on earth still alive?

Yes, Methuselah is alive as of May 2024. Scientists consider it the oldest single living thing on the planet, as reported by National Geographic. It resides in the Inyo National Forest between California’s Sierra Nevada range and the Nevada border. The U.S. Forest Service keeps its exact location secret to protect it from damage or vandalism.

However, climate change threatens the longevity of the world’s oldest trees. Scientists told The Washington Post they fear that human-induced climate change will create extreme heat, drought, and increased forest fires, endangering these ancient trees.