How Long Does It Take a Tree to Fully Grow?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 06, 2023

For trees to reach full growth, it depends on the climate and the water available. In tropical climates with warm weather and a plentiful supply of water, a tree can become fully grown in 30 years. A tree in cooler regions may take several hundred years to reach full maturity.

Every year a tree grows larger by adding a further layer of wood. These layers are called growth rings. The age of a tree may be calculated precisely by counting these growth rings. The oldest tree in the world is a Great Basin bristlecone pine in California, which is estimated to be 5,064 years old. The age was calculated by taking a core from the trunk of the tree.