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The olive tree is one of the most iconic species of the Mediterranean basin. Olive groves have dotted the landscapes of southern Europe and the Levant since ancient times. But beyond their cultural and agricultural significance, olive trees are remarkable for something else: their astonishing longevity.
One living example of that endurance is the olive tree of Vouves, found on the Greek island of Crete.
Conservative estimates suggest the olive tree of Vouves is about 2,000 years old. That would make it a living witness to the division of the Roman Empire, the fall of Byzantium, the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire, and the birth of modern Greece.
But some experts believe it could be much older—possibly up to 4,000 years. That would place its birth in the time of Minoan Crete, making it a contemporary of Pythagoras, Aristotle, and Alexander the Great. If true, the tree would have weathered the collapse of the Late Bronze Age, one of the most mysterious turning points in ancient history.
And the most surprising part? The olive tree of Vouves still produces fruit.
What makes olive trees live so long? The species Olea europaea typically lives several centuries—up to 500 years, according to most estimates. However, some studies have challenged these figures. A 2021 study published in Dendrochronologia found that most “monumental olive trees” fall between 300 and 500 years of age.
So why the uncertainty? It’s extremely difficult to determine the exact age of an olive tree. The standard method—dendrochronology, or counting growth rings—is far less reliable with olive trees, whose trunks grow in irregular, chaotic patterns.
A 2013 study in PLOS One confirmed just how hard it is to count growth rings in these living trees. However, the irregular growth may also be part of the secret to their longevity.
Scott Travers, a biologist at Rutgers University, told Forbes that olive trees have another trick up their sleeve: clonal reproduction. This means that many ancient olive trees are essentially networks of new shoots growing from an old root system. This allows the tree to survive extreme events such as fire, cutting, and disease.
Their biochemistry also helps. Olive trees have natural defense mechanisms that allow them to repair damaged tissue and resist pathogens. Interestingly, the same oil prized by humans for cooking and health benefits may also help protect the tree.
The Oldest Trees on Earth
While the olive tree of Vouves may be the most famous, it isn’t alone.
In Portugal, a tree in Abrantes—nicknamed Mouchão—could be as old as 3,350 years, according to researchers at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. In Spain, the Farga de Arión, in Tarragona, is estimated to be more than 1,700 years old, meaning it likely dates back to the reign of Emperor Constantine I.
Other millennial trees in Europe include ancient cedars, redwoods, and Canary Island dragon trees, some of which may rival the olive in age.
Despite their impressive age, olive trees don’t hold the global record. The oldest known non-clonal trees belong to the species Pinus longaeva, or bristlecone pine. Two such trees—Prometheus and Methuselah—have been dated to more than 4,800 years.
And if clonal organisms are included, the record goes to Pando on the Fishlake National Forest, Utah. This is a vast colony of genetically identical trees sharing one root system. Scientists estimate its age at around 80,000 years.
Image | David Stanley
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