Offspring of World’s Rarest Tree Given Safe Haven in Scotland

Conservationists have transferred two seedlings from one of the planet’s rarest trees to Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway, marking a significant step in efforts to prevent the species from disappearing entirely.

The offspring belong to the dendroseris neriifolia, a tree daisy indigenous to Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in the South Pacific. The plant faces an existential threat due to habitat destruction, invasive species, and recurring wildfires. Currently, only a single wild specimen remains, clinging precariously to a volcanic cliff face and supported by ropes to keep it from falling.

In May of this year, 29 seeds were collected from the lone survivor and dispatched to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Wakehurst. After successful germination, eight seedlings emerged. Two have now been sent to Logan Botanic Garden, which staff believe offers a climate particularly well-suited for rare Chilean flora, while the remaining six will stay at Kew.

This international rescue mission involves experts from both Chile and the UK. The species’ decline has been gradual but severe; by 1980, only eight wild specimens were recorded. Although reintroduction initiatives began in the early 2000s, a collapse in protective measures in 2017 left the remaining population exposed to grazing animals and invasive weeds once again.

Richard Baines, curator at Logan Botanic Garden, described the arrival as a pivotal moment for the project. He noted that previous experience shows plants from the Juan Fernández Islands thrive at the site. “This is the start of an exciting new period,” Baines said, emphasizing that providing a secure environment will allow scientists to study the seedlings’ adaptations and contribute to their long-term survival.

Diego Penneckamp, a scientist at Jardín Botánico VerdeNativo, highlighted the urgency of the operation. He described the effort as a “race against time” and stressed that the collaboration between nations offers a unique chance to preserve a distinct lineage of natural history that would otherwise be lost to extinction.