How long do Olive trees live? Go ahead, take a guess! Although the average life span of an Olive tree is 500 years, Olive trees in Italy, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel are said to be 6,000 years old! See the oldest Olive trees in Sardinia, Italy.

How Long Do Olive Trees Live?

The University of Sassari dated the Olivastri Millenari (Millenary Olive trees of Luras) in Sardinia, Italy between 3000 and 4000 years old making them among the oldest trees in the world. While the average life span of an olive tree is about 500 years, wild olive trees like those in Sardinia can be significantly longer. The Great Patriarch (pictured below) is the oldest of the Millenial Olive trees and is considered the oldest tree in Europe.

Could the Olive trees in Sardinia Italy be the oldest in the world? That depends on who you ask. Ring analysis dates the Olive tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece at least 2000 years. Although locals believe it to be between 3000 to 4000 years old. In Isreal, the Al-Badawi tree is believed to be 4000 years old. While in Bechealeh, Lebanon some of the “Sisters” or the Olive trees of Noah are believed to be 6,000 years old with Biblical origins. What’s the oldest tree you’ve seen while traveling? Let me know in the comment section below!

Millenary Olive Trees of Luras

Sardinia might be famous for its beautiful beaches, but the Sardinian countryside has a rugged charm that’s not to be missed. So on our trip, we tore ourselves away from the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia to visit the wild beauty of the Sardinian countryside. Located in the town of Karana, near Lake Liscia the Millenary Olive trees of Luras have drawn visitors from all over the world to this remote corner of Sardinia for decades.

Getting to Olivastri Millenari di Luras takes a bit of off-roading. Still, the reward for driving over bumpy dirt roads is immediately apparent. While cultivated olive trees have relatively thin trunks, the Millenary Olive trees of Luras are giant gnarly beasts. The Great Patriarch (pictured above) is almost 46 feet tall with a 60 feet trunk base. The limbs are so long and heavy they lean on the ground for stability before reaching skyward again.

The curated video below gives a good idea of just how massive these Olive trees are.

Video of the Oldest Olive Trees in Italy

Given their age, it’s surprising the Millenary Olive trees of Luras still bear fruit. The ground beneath the trees is covered in olive pits. Scooping up a few dried olive pits and turning them over in my hands I wondered if the secret to longevity is being wild.

While it might be difficult to know for sure what the oldest Olive Tree on earth is, the Millenial Olive Trees in Sardinia, Italy are absolutely worth taking a trip to see.

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References

• Olive Trees by UC Master Gardeners
• The Oldest Olive Tree in the World
• Olivastri Millenari Luras Agriturismo La Cerra