Bristlecone Pine
Bristlecone Pine
Tree
A gnarled mountain pine that is the oldest single living tree known — nearly 5,000 years old.
💡 Fun Facts
- It is the oldest single living tree known — some are nearly 5,000 years old!
- The oldest, called 'Methuselah', was already ancient before the Egyptians built the pyramids.
- Growing slowly on harsh, cold mountains is the secret to its incredibly long life.
Name Story
Pinus longaeva
means “the long-lived pine”
What does its name mean?
- Pinus — pineLatin pinus ‘pine’
- longaeva — of great age, long-livedLatin longus ‘long’ + aevum ‘age’
A true wonder of the world from the high mountains of North America: some of these pines have been alive for more than 4,800 years, making them among the oldest living things on Earth — every bit as ancient as their name promises.