The world’s largest known juniper has a hollow trunk that hides its exact age

PC: Journal of the California Native Plant Society, Fremontia California’s Stanislaus National Forest is home to the Bennett Juniper, a remarkable tree known for its enormous trunk and great age. It is the largest known example of the Sierra juniper, described as the world’s largest juniper species. The tree stands 24 metres tall and has a trunk measuring 389 centimetres in diameter.According to the Journal of the California Native Plant Society, Fremontia, the juniper is at least 2,200 years old, although its exact age remains unknown. Its hollow trunk prevents researchers from obtaining a complete tree-ring record. Despite this limitation, the available evidence confirms that the Bennett Juniper has survived for millennia, making it an exceptional example of California’s ancient trees.The world’s largest juniper grows in a Sierra mountain meadowThe Sierra juniper, scientifically known as Juniperus grandis or Juniperus occidentalis var. australis depending on the source, is the world’s largest juniper species. The Bennett Juniper is its most imposing example. It grows on a private inholding within the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County.The Bennett Juniper stands 24 metr...