The Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece: Widely regarded as one of the oldest, with estimates from 2,000–4,000 years old (based on dendrochronology and scientific analysis). It still produces olives today. The hollow or decayed heartwood in very old trees makes precise dating difficult (tree-ring analysis or radiocarbon dating has limits), so estimates vary. Olive trees can live much longer under ideal conditions—often 1,000+ years, and some are claimed to reach 2,000–4,000+ years. In well-maintained orchards, trees remain productive (bearing fruit) for centuries, though yield may decline after 300–400 years, leading farmers to replace or rejuvenate them. Most sources estimate the average lifespan of a cultivated olive tree at 300–600 years, with many reliable references (including h...

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