Conservation & Climate Change: Latest Story

Oldest tree in the world

12 May 2008 11.58am

A very young Picea abies tree at Kew

In April this year (2008) scientists at Umeå University announced that they had discovered spruce trees in Sweden that were over 9,000 years old. Up until now, bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva) in California held the 'oldest tree' record at a mere 4,000-5,000 years.

 

These ancient spruce trees (Picea abies) germinated soon after the end of the last Ice Age, more than 9,500 years ago, and are still going strong today.

The trees have been able to survive harsh weather and climate changes over the millenia because they can push out a new trunk as the old one died. In cold periods they grow as stunted shrubs. Branches can take root each winter as snow pushes low lying branches of the mother tree down to ground level. New erect stems can grow from these rooted branches. They can lose contact with the mother tree over time, or just grow on top and into the old crown.

Scientists found four 'generations' of the same spruce within one tree, aged at 375, 5,660, 9,000 and 9,550 years old. The wood was dated using radiocarbon dating.

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