Two seedlings from the last known wild dendroseris neriifolia have been moved to Logan Botanic Garden in south-west Scotland after seeds were collected from the lone wild tree on Robinson Crusoe Island. Of 29 seeds sent to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew, eight germinated and two were transferred to Logan while the rest remain at Kew. Conservationists hope the relocation will serve as a genetic safeguard and enable research to help prevent the species’ extinction.
Lifeline for a Lost Lineage: Seedlings From One of the World’s Rarest Trees Rehomed in Scotland
Logan Botanic Garden has been described as "Scotland's most exotic garden" [Chris James]
Two seedlings from one of the world’s rarest trees have been given a new home at Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway after an international rescue involving experts in Chile and the UK. The young plants are offspring of the last known wild dendroseris neriifolia, a tree daisy native to Robinson Crusoe Island in the South Pacific.
A Fragile Species Pulled Back From the Edge
The species has been driven to the brink by habitat loss, invasive plants, grazing animals and repeated wildfires. By 1980, only eight wild specimens were recorded. Reintroduction work began in the early 2000s, but the collapse of protection measures in 2017 left the trees vulnerable once more.
Today, the final surviving wild dendroseris neriifolia clings to a steep volcanic cliff and is supported by ropes to prevent it from falling. In May, conservationists collected 29 seeds from that lone tree and sent them to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew’s Wakehurst facility for safekeeping and propagation.
The species is native to Robinson Crusoe Island in the South Pacific [Getty Images]
From Seed Bank to Scottish Garden
Of the 29 seeds, eight seedlings successfully germinated. Two of those seedlings have been transferred to Logan Botanic Garden, where the mild maritime climate is particularly well suited to rare Chilean plants; the remaining seedlings will remain at Kew for ongoing research and conservation work.
Richard Baines, curator at Logan, said the arrival was a significant moment: “Experience shows that plant species from the Juan Fernández Islands do well at Logan. Creating a safe place for these seedlings, getting to know them and learning how they adapt to different environments gives us the chance to contribute so much more.”
Scientists involved in the project describe the international collaboration as a rare opportunity to prevent the extinction of a unique plant lineage and to preserve part of the Juan Fernández archipelago’s natural heritage.
Diego Penneckamp of Jardín Botánico VerdeNativo called the effort a “race against time” and said that support for the last remaining individual could avert the complete loss of the species.
Why This Matters
Botanical gardens and seed banks play a vital role in global plant conservation by safeguarding genetic diversity, enabling propagation and creating opportunities for research and reintroduction. The transfer to Logan not only provides an immediate safety net for these seedlings but also strengthens international cooperation focused on the long-term survival of dendroseris neriifolia.
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