These oldest olive trees have withstood forest fires, natural disasters and the rise of human civilisation. See them in Greece, Lebanon and Israel!
Olive tree of Vouves, Greece
There is an old olive tree on the Greek island of Crete. This old tree still produces olives, but they are very expensive. There are many olive trees on Crete and on other islands in Greece. Olive trees are drought, disease and fire resistant. That is why they live for a long time in southern parts of Europe.
When visiting Crete, you should see this 3000 to 5000 year old tree. You are not alone: 20,000 people visit this olive tree every year. You can also go to the website of the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves, where you can take a virtual tour. The 3D model can be printed, so you can feel this tree in the palm of your hand. Great souvenir!
Azores olive tree, Greece
You can stay in Crete for the second tree in this list. The ancient olive tree Azores, just outside Kavousi, is a +/- 3,250 year old gem. The circumference of the boot at a height of 0.8 metres is 14.2 metres! The maximum diameter of the trunk at the base is 7.1 metres and the circumference is 22.1 metres. The crown of the tree has a maximum diameter of 8.5 metres and a circumference of 34.5 metres.
Noah's sisters, Lebanon
In the village of Bechealeh بشعلي) ه) in northern Lebanon, you will find a group of sixteen olive trees. These 'sisters' are thought to be 6,000 years old. Locals say these trees are the source of the olive branch that brought the dove back to Noah after the flood (according to the Bible). Of course, this cannot be scientifically claimed, but it is a nice story to entertain local tourists. Noah's sisters are planted at an altitude of 1,300 metres. That makes them the highest planted olive trees. Did you know that these sisters are still producing olives?
Al-Badawi tree, Israel
The Al-Badawi tree in the village of Al-Walaja (Bethlehem district, Israel) is believed to be 4000 years old. Its boot has a circumference of 25 metres. This is incredible. In the towns of Deir Hanna and Arraba, you will also find 3,000-year-old olive trees. All the trees are still producing olives.
In the garden of Gethsemane you will find many old olive trees. Did Jesus weep in the shade of one of these trees? Impossible to say. According to carbon dating, the oldest parts of the olive trees are at least 900 years old. And: olive trees can grow back from their roots after being cut down. "We cannot rule out the possibility that there was an intervention to rejuvenate them when they were no longer productive or dried up." Professor Antonio Cimato told ABC News in 2012.
Do you want an old olive tree in your garden?
It is not possible to dig up a 2,000-3,000-year-old olive tree. These trees are protected and very fragile. However, it is possible to buy a 'younger' tree that is 500 to 1,000 years old. Finca Hermosa is a 550,000 m2 tree nursery in Spain. We have several important certificates. Finca Hermosa for example is both PPQS (Plant Production Quality System) and MPS certified. We do not only ship olive trees. Request a quote today!
More about olive trees:
- 11 interesting facts about olive trees
- 100-year-old olive tree: what is the price?
- Where to buy an olive tree? 5 tips for olive tree hunters!
- When do olive trees ripen?
- What is a European olive tree?
- All about buying an old olive tree: prices and information
- Buy a Spanish olive tree from ... Spain!