The World’s Oldest Individual Tree

Image: cwsteeds/flickr.

Although Vancouver Island and BC have some ancient trees, they are not the most ancient in the world. Of BC's trees, the Yellow-cedar is the longest living. It can grow for over 2000 years. But there are older trees around, including the world's oldest individual tree, a Great Basin bristlecone pine growing in California.

The twisted tree shown above is a bristlecone pine similar to Methuselah, which is 4800 years old. The location of the Methuselah tree is a closely guarded secret in order to protect this champion tree. It grows slowly in its harsh environment at 10, 000 feet.

Prometheus was even older at 5000 years. It was cut down in 1964.