Germany’s landscapes — from heath and lowland meadows to upland forests and rocky outcrops — support a mix of widespread species and plants found nowhere else. Local geology and long-standing land use have created small pockets where unique species evolved and persist.
There are 15 Endemic Plants of Germany, ranging from Baden Whitebeam to Westphalian Violet. For each species you’ll find below the Scientific name, Endemic region, Conservation status to make comparisons easy and actionable, and to show how rare or secure each one is—you’ll find below.
How threatened are these endemic plants and what can I do to help?
Threat levels vary: some endemics are stable in protected areas while others face habitat loss, invasive species, or agricultural change. Practical steps include supporting local conservation groups, avoiding picking or trampling plants, reporting sightings to citizen-science projects, and backing habitat restoration or protection efforts.
Where can I see Baden Whitebeam or Westphalian Violet in the wild?
Baden Whitebeam is typically found in parts of Baden-Württemberg and nearby limestone outcrops; Westphalian Violet occurs in pockets of Westphalia and adjacent woodlands. Visit local nature reserves or join guided botanical walks in the appropriate regions and seasons for the best chances to observe them.
Endemic Plants of Germany
| Name | Scientific name | Endemic region | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bavarian Scurvygrass | Cochlearia bavarica | Isar and Ammer river floodplains south of Munich, Bavaria | German Red List: 1 (Critically Endangered) |
| Purple Thrift | Armeria maritima subsp. purpurea | Heavy metal soils in the Eastern Harz Mountains, Saxony-Anhalt | German Red List: 2 (Endangered) |
| Orange-flowered Fleawort | Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. aurantiaca | Dry calcareous grasslands of the Swabian and Franconian Jura | German Red List: 3 (Vulnerable) |
| Franconian Gentian | Gentianella franconica | Franconian Jura in northern Bavaria | German Red List: 2 (Endangered) |
| Sponheim Saxifrage | Saxifraga sponhemica | Volcanic rock outcrops along the Nahe river valley, Rhineland-Palatinate | German Red List: 1 (Critically Endangered) |
| Westphalian Violet | Viola lutea subsp. guestphalica | Heavy metal soils in the Sauerland region, North Rhine-Westphalia | German Red List: 2 (Endangered) |
| Lax Fescue | Festuca laxa | Berchtesgaden Alps, Bavaria, on high-altitude limestone scree | German Red List: R (Extremely Rare) |
| Elegant Meadow-grass | Poa perconcinna | High-altitude limestone habitats in the Allgäu Alps, Bavaria | German Red List: R (Extremely Rare) |
| Spatulate Whitlow-grass | Draba spathulata | Limestone scree slopes in the Berchtesgaden Alps, Bavaria | German Red List: R (Extremely Rare) |
| Rock Fleabane | Erigeron petroiketes | Limestone rocks and scree in the Allgäu Alps, Bavaria | German Red List: R (Extremely Rare) |
| Baden Whitebeam | Sorbus badensis | Kaiserstuhl and Upper Rhine Valley, Baden-Württemberg | German Red List: 3 (Vulnerable) |
| Franconian Whitebeam | Sorbus franconica | Franconian Jura, northern Bavaria | German Red List: 3 (Vulnerable) |
| Haussknecht’s Whitebeam | Sorbus haussknechtii | Thuringian Forest and Franconian Forest, Thuringia and Bavaria | German Red List: 3 (Vulnerable) |
| Short-stemmed Hawkweed | Hieracium breviscapum | Bavarian Alps | German Red List: R (Extremely Rare) |
| Concealed-fruit Bramble | Rubus aphananthus | Westphalia (NRW) and southern Lower Saxony | German Red List: D (Data Deficient) |
Images and Descriptions
Bavarian Scurvygrass
A small, white-flowered plant of the cabbage family found only on pristine gravel banks and fens in Bavaria. Its survival is tied to the unique, dynamic river ecosystems of the Alpine foothills, blooming from May to June.
Purple Thrift
A subspecies of the common thrift, distinguished by its deep purple-violet flower heads. It is a specialist adapted to grow on soils naturally rich in heavy metals, a very rare and toxic habitat where few other plants can survive.
Orange-flowered Fleawort
A striking daisy relative with vibrant orange-red flower heads, unlike the typical yellow of its parent species. It thrives on the sunny, nutrient-poor limestone grasslands of southern Germany’s Jura mountains, blooming in early summer.
Franconian Gentian
A beautiful biennial gentian with purple, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in late summer. It is restricted to the specific unfertilized calcareous grasslands (‘Magerrasen’) of the Franconian Jura, making it a floral symbol of this unique landscape.
Sponheim Saxifrage
Forms dense, moss-like cushions on sunny, dry volcanic rocks. In spring, it produces delicate stems with white, star-shaped flowers. This plant is a relict from a cooler post-glacial period, now surviving in a very specific microclimate.
Westphalian Violet
A beautiful violet with striking bicolored petals, typically yellow and purple. Like the Purple Thrift, it has evolved to tolerate soils with high concentrations of zinc and lead, restricting it to historic mining areas in Westphalia.
Lax Fescue
A rare grass forming loose tufts with very fine, drooping leaves, perfectly adapted to unstable limestone scree slopes above 1,800 meters. Its specialized habitat in a tiny area of the Bavarian Alps makes it a true alpine endemic.
Elegant Meadow-grass
A delicate and graceful grass found only on limestone rocks and scree at high elevations in the Allgäu Alps. It is a glacial relict, meaning it survived in this small mountain refuge after the last ice age ended.
Spatulate Whitlow-grass
A tiny cushion-forming plant in the mustard family with hairy, spoon-shaped leaves and small white flowers. It is an extreme specialist, growing only on high-altitude, mobile limestone scree near the Austrian border, a habitat with few competitors.
Rock Fleabane
A small, daisy-like perennial with lilac or pinkish-white ray flowers. Its name means “rock-dweller,” and it is found exclusively in cracks and on ledges of limestone cliffs at high altitudes in a small section of the Allgäu Alps.
Baden Whitebeam
A small tree or large shrub that reproduces asexually, leading to genetically unique, stable populations in very small areas. It is found on warm, sunny slopes and is recognized by its lobed leaves and clusters of red autumn berries.
Franconian Whitebeam
One of Germany’s many endemic whitebeam species, found only on the limestone rock formations of Franconian Switzerland. It is a small tree adapted to dry, sunny slopes, contributing to the unique biodiversity of the region’s forests.
Haussknecht’s Whitebeam
A slender tree of hybrid origin that has stabilized into a distinct, asexually reproducing species. It is characterized by its deeply lobed leaves and is found in the forest margins and rocky slopes of central Germany’s low mountain ranges.
Short-stemmed Hawkweed
A yellow-flowered member of the complex hawkweed group, which produces many highly localized species without sexual reproduction. This species is defined by its very short flower stalk and is restricted to alpine meadows in the Bavarian Alps.
Concealed-fruit Bramble
A bramble species that, like hawkweeds and whitebeams, reproduces asexually to form local populations. It’s part of Germany’s exceptional diversity of endemic brambles, distinguished by subtle traits in its leaves, thorns, and flowers.
