Endangered Plants

There are about 18,000 endangered plants known at this point in time. “About 6% of the 300,000 identified species are endangered due to overcollection or destruction of habitat, among other causes.” Quote from Wikipedia.com

That is a terrifying statistic, 18,000 plants in such extreme danger of ceasing to exist. These come from every country on earth, the causes vary from place to place. It could be over grazing, fires, human settlement, invader species and many other causes.

We all know about this drama unfolding before our eyes, it’s on the tv, in the papers, our children are taught it at school, it’s everywhere you look. As gardeners we are sometimes in the position to help keep an endangered plant species alive and thriving. I have just taken delivery of such a plant.

See photos of my Wollemi Pine here

Many of the Agencies devoted to saving these endangered plant species are asking for donations. Search the web for your favorite cause and start donating so that you are one of the many helping to secure the future for your chosen plant.

Another way to help out is to actually buy an endangered plant when they become commercially available and start to grow your own. Have a look here and see the Wollemi Pine Certificate of Authenticity I received when I bought mine this week (March 17th 2006).

This may sound like a difficult process, just how do you get your hands on one? These are now becoming available to the public.

You really must have a look here for the magical story behind the discovery and availability of the Wollemi Pine, a critically endangered plant often referred to as the Dinosaur Tree.

The discovery of this tree has been so important to the international community that the first 292 to go on sale were auctioned by the famous Sotherby's Auction House. Maybe you just don’t have the room in your own garden for such a large tree, why not band together with some other gardeners and donate one to your local Community gardens.

These need our help, it’s improbable we can all 18,000, but we can help some. Gardeners are the not just about growing pretty flowers, we are much more. Many of us are quietly growing rare, endgangered and heritage plants, often just so the species can continue to exist. We do this with no fanfare, no reward, no recognition other than knowing we are helping to secure a future for our special tree.

Return from Endangered Plants to Sustainable Gardening Tips home page