Welwitschia mirabilis is a desert plant found only in the Namib, from central Namibia to southern Angola. It grows just two leaves in its whole life and never sheds them. The often-quoted age of 2,000 years is an old extrapolation: a 2026 radiocarbon study dated the oldest tissue of a medium-sized welwitschia at about 531 years.
Key points
- Welwitschia is a gymnosperm endemic to the Namib Desert and the only living species in its family, Welwitschiaceae.
- It has two leaves that grow throughout its life and are never shed: the longest-lived leaves of any plant.
- Age: the oldest tissue in a medium-sized plant was dated to 531 ± 20 radiocarbon years; the highest published date is 920 ± 20 years. "2,000 years" is an extrapolation from 1961.
- The easiest place to see it near Swakopmund is Welwitschia Drive in Namib-Naukluft Park, where you need a permit bought in advance from the environment ministry.
What is Welwitschia mirabilis?
According to Martin et al. (Radiocarbon, 2026), Welwitschia mirabilis is a gymnosperm endemic to the Namib Desert, ranging from central Namibia to southern Angola, and the only living species of the family Welwitschiaceae (order Gnetales). It does not grow a normal trunk: a woody caudex widens into lobes over the years. From the base it produces two leaves that grow continuously and are never shed, which the authors describe as the longest-lived leaves of any plant. Plants are either male or female.
IUCN calls welwitschia and the !nara melon "two of the iconic endemic species" of the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage site and of Namibia. The plant also appears on Namibia's coat of arms, adopted at independence in 1990.
How old can a welwitschia get?
Welwitschia has no growth rings, so its age cannot be counted like a tree's. The radiocarbon record is short:
| Study | What was dated | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Herre, 1961 | an unspecified sample | "about 500 to 600 years"; by extrapolation the largest plant on the Husab plains was estimated at around 2,000 years |
| Crane and Griffin, 1970 | a living plant, sampling not described | 920 ± 20 radiocarbon years, the oldest published date |
| Martin et al., 2026 | a dead medium-sized male from Welwitschia Wash, sampled systematically | oldest tissue 531 ± 20 radiocarbon years; vertical growth of about 0.47 to 0.67 mm a year |
The 2026 authors write that the 2,000-year figure "has been popularized into a mythical fact". Large living plants may well be older than the one they dated, but no published radiocarbon date yet confirms 1,000 or 2,000 years.
Where does welwitschia grow?
Only in the Namib Desert, from central Namibia north into Angola. Namibia's environment ministry notes that it also grows in Angola's Iona National Park, across the Kunene River. The plant studied in 2026 came from Welwitschia Wash, a ravine in Namib-Naukluft Park 14 km east of the Gobabeb research station and about 66 km from the coast, where about 165 plants grow.
Welwitschia Drive: how to see it near Swakopmund
Welwitschia Drive near Swakopmund lies in Namib-Naukluft Park; NWR lists the Welwitschia Trail among the park's features. Namibia's environment ministry (MEFT) says you need a permit for Welwitschia Drive before you go, from its office in Swakopmund (corner of Bismarck Street and Sam Nujoma Avenue) or in Windhoek; Namibia Wildlife Resorts does not issue permits. Namib-Naukluft Park is in the top fee category from 1 April 2026: N$280 per day for a non-SADC foreign adult, N$180 for a child over 8 and under 16 and N$60 for a car.
How to look after the plants
- Stay on the marked road: MEFT forbids leaving marked roads in all parks.
- Do not step on the leaves or the root area.
- Do not take seeds or cones: removing plants from parks is not allowed.
IUCN also reports two alien invertebrates on welwitschia in the park, Argentine ants and cabbage butterflies, which is one more reason to keep a distance.
This material is provided for reference. Data as of October 2026.
FAQ
How old is Welwitschia mirabilis?
The best measured age is lower than often claimed. A 2026 radiocarbon study dated the oldest tissue of a medium-sized plant at 531 ± 20 years, and the oldest published date is 920 ± 20 years. The popular figure of 2,000 years is an extrapolation from 1961.
How many leaves does a welwitschia have?
Two. They grow from the base throughout the plant's life and are never shed; researchers describe them as the longest-lived leaves of any plant.
Where can you see welwitschia in Namibia?
Along Welwitschia Drive near Swakopmund, in Namib-Naukluft Park. You need a permit bought in advance from the environment ministry office in Swakopmund or Windhoek.
Is welwitschia found only in Namibia?
It is found only in the Namib Desert, which runs from central Namibia into southern Angola, so it also grows in Angola's Iona National Park.
Why is welwitschia on Namibia's coat of arms?
It is one of the country's best-known endemic plants. Namibia adopted its coat of arms, with a Namib dune and a welwitschia, at independence in 1990.
