Genista germanica
Local name: Genêt d'Allemagne
Genista germanica, the German greenweed, is a plant species in the genus Genista belonging to the family Fabaceae.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genista_germanica
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Genista
Genista germanica belongs to the family Fabaceae, order Fabales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Genista germanica, the German greenweed, is a plant species in the genus Genista belonging to the family Fabaceae.
Genista germanica (German Greenweed) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized heathland and grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated much of its suitable habitat across its European range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species grows in Central Europe, Western Europe and Southern Europe (Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia; Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia, Italy, Romania, France). These shrubs can be found in thickets, poor pastures, heaths and dry meadows, preferably on acidic soils,...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Genista germanica (German Greenweed) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized heathland and grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have eliminated much of its suitable habitat across its European range.
Habitat loss due to agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Abandonment of traditional grazing practices
Climate change affecting suitable habitat zones
Succession to woodland in unmanaged areas
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Genista germanica (Genista germanica). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/genet-dallemagne