Who has not ever gone on a hike and encountered trees with huge trunks? These plants, while they can grow slowly, can have such a long life expectancy that, if all goes well, they grow into amazing plants. They are often not the tallest, but they are the ones that take up the most space.
This time we are going to show you some monumental trees in Spainthat is, arboreal ‘grandparents’ that are amazing in size and age.
Holy Chestnut of Istán (Malaga)
Image – Wikimedia / tree-species
The chestnut tree, whose scientific name is castanea sativait is a tree from which many benefits have always been obtained. It provides an exquisite shade during the summer, in autumn its chestnuts can be consumed, and especially in the past its wood was used to make furniture. Therefore, it is not surprising that in our country there lives a specimen whose age round between 800 and 1000 yearsspecifically in the Boat Hole, in the Sierra Real, located in Istan (Malaga).
It has a perimeter of 13,5 meters, and is approximately 22 meters high. It is not declared a natural monument, but taking into account its age and dimensions, we think it should be so that its survival is assured.
Millennial dragon tree (Tenerife)
For the more studious, they may think that the dragon tree (dracaena draco), it should not be on this list since both the structure of the trunk and the shape of its leaves are different from those of ‘real’ trees so to speak. But we have included it because it is a plant of great beauty that canaries, and in particular Tenerife, are lucky enough to be able to enjoy. Besides that, currently, the species is included in the category of Trees.
It is the largest and longest-lived specimen, not only in Spain, but in the whole world. It is 18 meters high, and has an approximate perimeter of 6 meters at its base. It is located in the Icord de los Vinos, in Tenerife, to be more specific in the Parque del Drago, and is approximately 800-1000 years old. It is declared a National Monument.
The Roblón de Estalaya (Palencia)
In Palencia, specifically in the natural park of Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre of the Palentina mountain, lives one of the colossi of the country: a sessile oak (its scientific name is Quercus petraea) what It is neither more nor less than 600 years old. With a height of 12 meters and a crown perimeter of 17 meters, it is spectacular, so much so that it is included in the catalog of Vegetable Specimens of Singular Relevance of Castilla y León.
His life has not been easy. In its huge trunk and branches you can see what the arson, the axes and even the lightning have left it. Luckily, today the place he inhabits is declared a protected area, so the ‘Grandfather’, as he is called, can still stand, hopefully a few more centuries.
Ginkgo biloba from Hernani (Guipúzcoa)
Image – John Pagola
If we talk about trees considered living fossils, the Ginkgo biloba It is one of them. It began its evolution about 270 million years ago, in the Permian period, and although today it has no living relatives, it is much loved by many. For example, in Japan it is believed that it carries hope; not in vain, a specimen survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
But returning to Spain, we have the immense luck of being able to contemplate one at the Hernani Retiree Home, in Guipúzkoa. It measures 18,3 meters high, and its circumference 5,02 meters. He is estimated to be 220-240 years old..
Olivera de Cort (Majorca)
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Image – Wikimedia / Nikolay Maksimovich
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Image – Wikimedia Commons / JIP
In order for a tree to live for many years in the Mediterranean, it has to be able to withstand drought and the impact of sunlight on its leaves, as well as some frosts. It is also important that it can survive an occasional flood, as in this region summer storms are often accompanied by torrential rains. But this is not a problem for him olive.
It does not grow very fast, but it is one of the most recommended for planting in low maintenance gardens … or in a city like Palma. Right in front of the town hall is the olive tree of Cort, a specimen that grew in the Sierra de Tramuntana but was transplanted in the capital in 1999. You are over 600 years oldand it is considered to be the symbol of peace and of rootedness to the earth.
Giant sequoia from La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia)
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Image – lasimagenesqueyoveo.com
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Image – mapio.net
The giant sequoia is a natural tree from North America, specifically from Sierra Nevada (California), whose scientific name is Giant sequoiadendron. But here in Spain they have been cultivated with enormous success in some places, such as in the garden of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, in Segovia.
Two live there: the ‘King’, who is 46 meters high, and the ‘Queen’, 38,5 meters high. It is still little if we compare it with the dimensions of the tallest specimen in the world (General Sherman, who measures 84 meters), but it is not bad at all considering that it is several thousand kilometers from its original habitat. His age is estimated to be around 164 years.
Yew of Barondillo (Madrid)
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Image – Wikimedia / Miguel303xm
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Image – Flickr / bicijose
The common yews, whose scientific name is Taxus baccataThey are very resistant conifers. They grow slowly but surely. For this reason, this list could not miss the Barondillo yew, which lives in the Sierra de Guadarrama, in Madrid, specifically next to the stream that gives it its name (Barondillo).
It is 8 meters high, with a 15 meter crown and a trunk perimeter of 9,10 meters. It is estimated to be between 1500 and 2000 years olda surprising age without a doubt. Since 1985 it has been included in the catalog of singular trees in Madrid, thus being protected.
Do you know other monumental trees in Spain?
