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The world’s oldest rose clings to the wall of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany. You won’t believe how old it is...

Michie

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While the ancestors of the plants that grow on our planet today can date back millions of years, some individual plants that still exist are also impressively old. If you’re a fan of horticulture and are keen to see living history, here’s where to travel to see six of the oldest plants in the world.

The World’s Oldest Rose – Germany

Rose bushes seen through stone arch at Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany
Photo credit: dpa picture alliance/ Alamy Stock Photo

The rose plant that clings to the wall of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany was first documented in 815 CE, which makes this flowering plant more than 1,200 years old. The Germans refer to it as the Tausendjähriger Rosenstock, meaning the “thousand year rose.” According to local lore, Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious was out hunting when he lost his cross. He later discovered it beside a rose bush, which he decided would make a fine spot for a cathedral. The rose was a wild dog rose, and it’s still here today because of its remarkable ability to survive.

Towards the end of World War II, a direct hit on the cathedral caused it to burn, and the precious rosebush was a casualty, too. But from the ashes came a miracle: Eight weeks later, a cluster of new shoots appeared from a root buried under the debris. Each spring, it still blooms in glorious shades of pale pink.

The World’s Oldest Spruce Tree – Sweden

Continued below.