PubMed · 2025-12-27
Of 26,036 plant species globally threatened with extinction, only 238 (about 1%) have also managed to establish themselves in the wild outside their native range. These rare dual-status species are mostly economically valuable trees and shrubs — like timber and landscaping plants — suggesting human use drove both their spread and their decline at home.
Only 238 of 26,036 IUCN-assessed threatened plant species (~1%) are also naturalized outside their native range.
Most dual-status species are trees or shrubs with documented economic value, particularly for building materials and landscaping.
Africa contributed the largest absolute number of threatened-yet-naturalized species, but fewer than statistically expected given its high total count of threatened plants; Europe hosted more naturalized threatened species than expected.