Elderflora

A Modern History of Ancient Trees

A sweeping, fascinating history of the world’s oldest trees—and how our relationship with them has shaped the modern world.

Humans have long revered ancient trees, but as historian Jared Farmer reveals, it wasn’t until the 18th century that scientists began actively seeking out and dating the planet’s oldest living organisms. This pursuit sparked a new way of thinking about time, nature and our place within both. Sacred groves became tourist attractions. Conservationists raced to preserve what empires and industry sought to exploit.

From the cedars of Lebanon to California’s bristlecone pines to New Zealand’s kauri forests, Elderflora traces the global legacy of these botanical elders. Farmer weaves together insights from Indigenous communities, spiritual traditions, and cutting-edge science to explore the stories of trees that have witnessed millennia—and what they tell us about survival, stewardship, and the fragile promise of the future.