Methuselah is 5,000 Years Old

In California’s White Mountains, the Great Basin bristlecone pine nicknamed Methuselah is estimated to be between 4,800 and 5,000 years old. One Tree Planted details the world’s oldest, tallest, and largest trees, finding examples across multiple continents. The ancient cypress of Abarquh in Iran is over 4,000 years old, while Pando, a clonal colony of quaking aspen in Utah, may date back 14,000 years.

Redwood expert Stephen Silett confirmed the Hyperion in California reaches 379.1 feet, though access is restricted to protect it from damage. In Malaysia, the Menara yellow meranti stands at 330 feet, recently claiming the title of tallest hardwood tree. General Sherman, a giant sequoia in California, is the largest tree by volume at 56,186 cubic feet.

Despite their impressive size and age, many of these trees face threats. Pando is shrinking due to overgrazing, while sequoias are vulnerable to increasingly intense wildfires. Ongoing conservation efforts, like those in the Danum Valley of Malaysia and the protective measures for General Sherman, aim to safeguard these trees for future generations.