Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
Nature

Methuselah tree – Can You Find the Oldest Tree on Earth?

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Trees are vital to human life. They are some of the oldest know living organisms on Earth. For example, the Methuselah Tree will be 4,855 years old in 2023. Also known as Great Basin bristlecone pine tree, it grows high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California.
The tree is recognized as the non-clonal tree with the greatest confirmed age in the world. The name refers to the biblical patriarch Methuselah, who ostensibly lived to 969 years of age. He is synonymous with longevity or old age in many European countries.

Status as the Oldest Tree

Who discovered Methuselah? How did it get the status of the oldest tree in the world? That would be thanks to Edmund Schulman and Tom Harlan. The two sampled the tree back in 1957, when it was “only” 4,789 years old.
They set an estimated germination date of 2833 BC, and since the tree dates back to this date, using tree rings, research showed precipitation patterns dating back to 1983 BC.


But it is not the only bristlecone specimen in the world. For example, Methuselah might be the oldest tree, but that species certainly ages. For example, WPN-114, nicknamed Prometheus, was approximately 4,844 years old when it was cut down in 1964. It had an estimated germination date of 2880 BC.
Tom Harlan, believes he has discovered an even older tree. He was the one who discovered Methuselah. In 2009, he said that he believes he had collected a sample of a tree 5,062 years old and still living in 2010. But since he passed away in 2013, the tree and the sample core couldn’t be located.

Is it still alive?

As we said before, Methuselah tree would be 4,855 years old in 2023. And yes, as of December 2022, the tree is still alive. But, its exact location is kept under wraps by the US Forest Department. The goal is simple, to protect the tree from vandalism.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
[youtube=3Ap4Efp7pBs]

Scientists believe it is the planet’s oldest single living thing. In early 2022, National Geographic posted a report stating that bristlecone pines might have a contender for the title of oldest tree. The study showed a Chilean researcher, presenting a study with a Patagonian cypress, believing to be the longest living tree species.
But that has not been confirmed.
With that in mind, Methuselah and its unnamed senior pine’s exact locations are kept a close secret in order to protect them. The tree is still alive, and you can visit the grove where it hides. But you will have to guess which tree it is.

Can You Get to it?

Adventure travelers might be willing to try and find the tree. But it is not an easy task. The storied bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves. They are located mostly in the mountainous regions of Nevada, California, and Colorado.
As for Methuselah, it is located in the White Mountains in California. But remember, they thrive on adversity and live in harsh conditions and high elevations.

Rank #2
Ancient Bristlecone Pine | Tree Seed Grow Kit | The Jonsteen Company
  • Grow one of the world's oldest living organisms from seed!
  • Includes absolutely everything you need to grow a Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) from seed: seeds, growing medium, a mini-greenhouse, and detailed instructions
  • 100% guaranteed: If your seed fails to germinate or your seedling perishes, we are happy to provide free replacement seed
  • Great for kids and adults, amateurs to experts!
  • A universal symbol of life, regrowth and recovery, enduring friendships and new beginnings, a tree is a wonderful gift that will only grow in value, meaning, and beauty


Bristlecone wood is very dense and resinous, making it resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests.
As for the Ancient Bristlecone National Forest where the Methuselah tree is located, it is at high elevation. The visitor center and Schulman Grove is between 9,500 and 9,800 feet above sea level. The Patriarch Grove, 13 miles farther down a dirt road, is above 11,000 feet above sea level.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Ancient Bristlecone Pine | Tree Seed Grow Kit | The Jonsteen Company
Ancient Bristlecone Pine | Tree Seed Grow Kit | The Jonsteen Company
Grow one of the world's oldest living organisms from seed!; Great for kids and adults, amateurs to experts!
$10.99
Bestseller No. 3
Bristlecone Pine. Pinus aristata. Natural Dwarf. Young Tree Ready for Bonsai or Landscape. Hickory Pine.
Bristlecone Pine. Pinus aristata. Natural Dwarf. Young Tree Ready for Bonsai or Landscape. Hickory Pine.
native to the mountains of southwestern United States; slow growing natural dwarf speciman tree
$25.00
Bestseller No. 4
Pinus aristata: Bristlecone Pine Seeds
Pinus aristata: Bristlecone Pine Seeds
Packet contains a minimum of 35 hand-sorted, high-quality seeds.; Irregular in form. Slow growth rate. Ideal for use as a windbreak in a small garden.
$6.00
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
10 Seeds Bristlecone Pine Seeds | Pinus aristata Oldest Living Tree in The World!
  • You’ll get 10 Seeds Bristlecone Pine Seeds (Pinus aristata) "Oldest Living Tree in The World!"
  • A Very Rare & Beautiful Bonsai.
Rank #4
Pinus aristata: Bristlecone Pine Seeds
  • Packet contains a minimum of 35 hand-sorted, high-quality seeds.
  • Irregular in form. Slow growth rate. Ideal for use as a windbreak in a small garden.
  • Thrives in zones 3 to 7, in full sun and a range of soil types. Tolerates poor soils and drought.
  • These seeds are not pre-packaged - they are hand-selected after you place your order.
Rank #3
Bristlecone Pine. Pinus aristata. Natural Dwarf. Young Tree Ready for Bonsai or Landscape. Hickory Pine.
  • native to the mountains of southwestern United States
  • slow growing natural dwarf speciman tree
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a & 7b.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.