Oak trees can live to a ripe old age. This should be considered when planting an oak tree. It will stand there for many decades, if not centuries. So make sure you choose a convenient location.
How old can an oak tree get and how do you determine its age?
The age of an oak tree depends on its type and location. Pedunculate oaks can live an average of 800 years, sessile oaks around 700 years. The age can be estimated by measuring the circumference of the trunk at a height of 1.50 meters and multiplying the result by 0.8.
This is how old oaks live on average
- Pedunculate oak – 800 years
- Sessile oak – 700 years
- Trunk circumference up to over 9 meters
- Height up to 40 meters
Age depends on species and location
The age of an oak tree depends on both the location and the oak species. A he althy English oak is 800 years old, although the oldest oak in the world is said to be around 1,500 years old. This great age is quite credible, as some of the oaks that are still alive today were already mentioned in ancient documents.
Sessile oaks, the second most common type of oak in Germany, are not quite as old at around 700 years.
Oaks are slow-growing trees that only begin to bloom after the age of 60. Only then will the first acorns develop.
Determining the age of an oak tree
You can use a trick to determine the approximate age of an oak tree. To do this, the tree circumference is measured at a height of 1.50 meters. Multiply the circumference in centimeters by 0.8. The result shows the probable age of the oak.
The location also plays a role in the investigation. In less favorable locations the trunks remain thinner than in good locations.
The age can only be determined precisely using the radiocarbon method.
Tips & Tricks
So-called thousand-year-old oaks can still be found in many places in Germany. They impress with their size and trunk circumference. These trees often survive even if they are struck by lightning or parts of the crown are felled by a storm.
