Last wild Chilean tree daisy gets hope as ropes support survivor, seedlings reach Scotland

A rare tree daisy from Chile's Robinson Crusoe Island is receiving a new lifeline after two seedlings arrived at Logan Botanic Garden in south-west Scotland. Dendroseris neriifolia has been reduced to one known wild tree, which grows on a steep cliff and is supported by ropes to prevent it from falling. Conservationists in Chile and the UK are working to preserve the species through seed collection and cultivation. In May 2026, 29 seeds were collected from the surviving tree and sent to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. Eight seedlings germinated, and two have since been transferred to Logan, where specialists hope to learn more about their growth and help secure the future of the critically endangered plant.World's rarest wild Chilean tree daisy clings to lifeThe remaining wild Dendroseris neriifolia tree grows on a steep volcanic outcrop on Robinson Crusoe Island. Its precarious position has made physical support essential, with ropes helping prevent the tree from falling. The species has experienced a sharp decline over several decades. By 1980, only eight wild trees remained. Reintroduction projects were attempted in the early 2000s, but the breakdown of protective measures in 2017 a...