Paradise Plant
Daphne mezereum
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_mezereum
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Family
Thymelaeaceae
Genus
Daphne
Paradise Plant belongs to the family Thymelaeaceae, order Malvales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Paradise Plant faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its native range. Over-collection for ornamental and medicinal purposes has further reduced wild populations, while climate change threatens the specific cool, moist conditions this species requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, and scrublands in mountainous regions, typically on calcareous soils between 500-2000m elevation. Requires cool, moist conditions with partial shade and well-drained but moisture-retentive soils.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Paradise Plant faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its native range. Over-collection for ornamental and medicinal purposes has further reduced wild populations, while climate change threatens the specific cool, moist conditions this species requires for survival.
Climate change altering temperature and moisture regimes
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Over-collection for ornamental and medicinal use
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Forest fragmentation reducing population connectivity
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). Paradise Plant (Daphne mezereum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/paradise-plant