Oak trees can reach old age. This should be considered when planting an oak tree. It will stand in place for many decades, if not centuries. So make sure you have a convenient location.

This is how old an oak tree gets on average

  • Common oak - 800 years
  • Sessile oak - 700 years
  • Trunk circumference up to 9 meters
  • Height up to 40 meters

Age dependent on species and location

The age of an oak depends on both the location and the oak species. A healthy pedunculate oak is 800 years old, and the oldest oak tree in the world is said to be around 1,500 years old. This great age is quite credible, because some of the oak trees that are still alive today were already mentioned in ancient documents.

Sessile oaks, the second most common oak species in Germany, do not get quite as old at around 700 years.

Oaks are among the 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

A trick can be used to determine the approximate age of an oak tree. For this purpose, 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 determination. In less favorable locations, the trunks remain thinner than in good locations.

The exact age can only be determined by the radiocarbon method.

tips and 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.

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Trees