10 Endangered Tree Species You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

There are over 60,000 tree species in the world. But many are vanishing before most of us ever learn their names.

That’s why people are starting to ask: Are redwood trees endangered? What is the rarest tree in the world? They’re the right questions, but just decades too late for some species.

When we talk about endangered species, trees rarely make the list. But from remote islands to rainforest floors, rare tree species are being lost due to logging, land clearing, pests, and changing weather patterns. Some trees have been reduced to a single wild specimen. Others are still standing, but only in scattered, shrinking pockets.

This isn’t just about losing beautiful plants. It’s about losing shade, oxygen, biodiversity, water regulation, and entire ecosystems that depend on trees to survive.

In this article, we’re spotlighting 10 endangered trees you’ve probably never heard of. These aren’t just names from a list of endangered trees. They’re living species on the edge, trees that are going extinct while most of the world looks away.

Endangered Tree Species You’ve Likely Never Heard Of

The world is home to thousands of tree species, but some are closer to disappearing than we think.  Here are ten endangered tree species you probably haven’t heard of but should: 

1. Bois Dentelle

Found only in the highland forests of Mauritius, Bois Dentelle is one of the rarest tree species on the planet. It’s currently known from just two wild specimens, both of which are struggling to survive in an area overrun by faster-growing invasive plants. The native ecosystem that once supported this tree has been steadily choked out, leaving little room for regeneration.

Its name, French for “lace wood,” comes from its delicate, fringed white flowers, which bloom in clusters, giving the tree a distinct, ornamental appearance. Despite its small size, Bois Dentelle plays an essential role in the island’s delicate ecosystem.

Its unique white, lace-like flowers aren’t just visually striking; they offer nectar to native pollinators that depend on flowering trees like this one. As more of these rare trees vanish, so do the insects and wildlife that evolved alongside them.

Bois Dentelle isn’t just a rare tree; it’s one of the most extreme cases of trees going extinct in the wild. Conservationists are working to cultivate new specimens in botanical gardens, but their future in the wild remains uncertain. For anyone asking what is the rarest tree or which trees are vanishing without notice, this species is a sobering answer.

2. Monkey Puzzle Tree

Native to the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina, the Monkey Puzzle Tree is one of the oldest living tree species on Earth, often referred to as a “living fossil.” It’s been around since the time of the dinosaurs, and some individual trees are known to live for over 1,000 years. However, despite its resilience over millennia, this species has recently been added to the endangered trees list.

Widespread logging in the 20th century severely reduced its population, and today, fire, land conversion, and climate shifts continue to threaten what’s left. Because the tree grows slowly and regenerates at a glacial pace, damaged forests don’t bounce back easily. In areas where it once dominated, it now exists in fragmented patches or as isolated individuals.

The Monkey Puzzle Tree plays a critical role in supporting local biodiversity. Its seeds are a vital food source for native species, such as the long-beaked bird Colaptes pitius, and its massive structure provides shelter for animals that depend on mature forest cover. It’s also culturally significant to the Indigenous Pehuenche people, who have used its seeds for food and medicine for generations.

While better known than some others on this list, it’s still a good example of how rare trees can slip toward extinction despite legal protections. 

3. Pennantia Baylisiana

High on the cliffs of New Zealand’s remote Three Kings Islands stands a single tree that represents an entire species. Pennantia baylisiana is considered one of the rarest tree species in the world, so rare that for decades, only one individual was known to exist. It’s the kind of species that defines what it means for trees to be going extinct.

This lone female tree was discovered in 1945 by conservationist Geoff Baylis and has remained in the spotlight of conservation efforts ever since. Its near-total isolation in the wild means it can’t reproduce naturally, making it one of the most extreme cases of a species living on the edge. In terms of rarity, it’s a serious contender for what is the rarest tree still alive today.

Despite the odds, scientists have successfully cloned the tree and grown saplings in botanical collections across New Zealand. These efforts have kept the species from vanishing entirely, but re-establishing it in the wild remains a challenge due to habitat degradation and the presence of invasive goats that damaged the island’s native vegetation for years.

As part of New Zealand’s unique flora, Pennantia baylisiana once played a role in supporting island-specific biodiversity. Its recovery, even in cultivated form, helps maintain genetic diversity that could be critical to long-term ecosystem resilience. Though it may not appear on every mainstream endangered trees list, its story is one of the clearest examples of a species surviving by the thinnest thread.

4. Grandidier’s Baobab

Towering over the dry forests of western Madagascar, Grandidier’s Baobab is the largest of the island’s six native baobab species and the one most at risk. With its massive trunk and root-like branches stretching toward the sky, this tree is often seen in photos of Madagascar’s famous Avenue of the Baobabs. But behind the iconic look is a species slipping toward extinction.

Grandidier’s Baobab is now classified as endangered, primarily due to habitat loss from slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and land clearing. As forests disappear, younger baobabs struggle to establish themselves, and the older ones, some of which are centuries old, stand alone with no natural succession. It’s a familiar pattern observed in many endangered rainforest trees, including those in dry tropical climates.

Beyond its size and age, the tree carries significant ecological and cultural significance. Its thick trunk stores thousands of liters of water, offering drought resilience in one of the driest regions of Madagascar. The fruit, rich in nutrients, is a vital seasonal food source for both humans and animals. Birds, bats, and lemurs all rely on the tree’s flowers and fruit for survival, making it a core part of the local ecosystem.

In the broader list of endangered trees, Grandidier’s Baobab is especially significant because it’s so visible and yet still at risk. It’s a reminder that even the most iconic and admired species can quietly slide toward the category of trees that are going extinct, especially when their slow-growing nature makes recovery a long and arduous process.

5. St. Helena Gumwood

Once abundant across the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena, the Gumwood is now one of its last remaining endemic tree species and a deeply symbolic one. It was declared the national tree of St. Helena to draw attention to its decline, but that status alone hasn’t been enough to guarantee its survival.

The species was nearly wiped out by centuries of overgrazing, deforestation, and invasive plant pressure. What’s left today are small populations scattered across protected reserves, the result of decades of conservation work and native plant reforestation. Without those efforts, this tree would almost certainly have joined the list of extinct trees in the USA and beyond.

Though not tall or dramatic in appearance, the Gumwood once formed entire forests that supported a network of endemic insects, birds, and undergrowth. Its presence helped stabilize soil on St. Helena’s steep slopes and provided shade and shelter for native flora and fauna, many of which are now gone or in decline themselves. Like many rare trees, its disappearance would involve more than just the loss of the species itself.

As part of any serious list of endangered trees, the Gumwood is a prime example of how local extinction is often tied to larger ecological unraveling. It’s not the rarest tree in the world, but it may be one of the most quietly important.

6. Chinese Water Fir

Once common along riverbanks and wetlands in southern China, Vietnam, and Laos, the Chinese Water Fir has become one of the most threatened conifers in the world. It was historically valued for its rot-resistant wood, which made it a target for logging over many centuries. Today, however, the bigger threat is habitat loss—swamps drained for agriculture, rivers dammed for energy, and floodplains converted to farmland.

This species prefers standing water and saturated soils, making it uniquely suited to play a role in regulating water and controlling erosion. Its presence helps slow floods, stabilize riverbanks, and support biodiversity in wetland ecosystems, an increasingly rare function as natural wetlands disappear around the world.

Despite its quiet role in the environment, the Chinese Water Fir is now critically endangered. Fewer than a thousand mature trees are thought to remain in fragmented pockets, many of which are aging and not naturally regenerating.

Conservation efforts have shifted to seed banking and propagation in arboretums; however, reintroducing the tree into restored wetlands remains a significant challenge. Among rare tree species, this one stands out not for its appearance but for its ecological function. 

7. Big-Leaf Mahogany

Big-leaf mahogany is one of the most commercially exploited tropical hardwoods in the world and a clear example of how economic demand can push a species toward collapse. Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, this towering tree once stretched uninterrupted across millions of hectares. Now, after decades of intensive logging, it appears frequently on any serious endangered trees list.

Its wood is highly prized for furniture, paneling, and musical instruments, leading to aggressive harvesting, both legal and illegal. Even where protections exist, enforcement is patchy. Many forests have been selectively logged to the point where only juvenile trees remain, which affects not just the species itself but also the biodiversity that depends on mature canopy cover.

Big-leaf mahogany plays a vital role in stabilizing rainforest ecosystems. Its height and broad canopy offer shade and structure for birds, insects, and epiphytes. When these large trees are removed, the forest becomes more susceptible to drought, erosion, and long-term decline. In short, the loss of one tree species can destabilize an entire landscape.

Though not yet extinct, Big-Leaf Mahogany is a textbook case of how even widespread species can become rare trees under pressure. Suppose you’re thinking about trees that are going extinct. In that case, this one belongs in the conversation, not just for its ecological role, but as a warning of what happens when sustainability is ignored.

8. Mallee Wattle

Deep in Australia’s arid interior, the Mallee Wattle is surviving where few other tree species can. It thrives in extreme heat, nutrient-poor soils, and long dry spells, traits that make it incredibly valuable in a changing climate. But even this hardy survivor isn’t immune to pressure. Once widespread across parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, it’s now limited to just a few small populations, all of which are under threat.

Fire, feral animals, and land clearing for cattle grazing have all taken a toll on the environment. Because it grows slowly and doesn’t regenerate easily, the loss of older trees means the species struggles to replace itself. In some areas, local populations are aging out without any sign of younger trees taking root.

Mallee Wattle supports a range of native wildlife, offering food and shelter in a landscape where shade and nutrients are scarce. Its resilience makes it a valuable part of desert ecosystems, and its decline is a signal that even well-adapted trees can be pushed too far.

Although it may not be at the top of the list of what is the rarest tree, its limited range and shrinking numbers earn it a firm place among endangered tree species. As climate extremes become more common, protecting trees like this one, uniquely adapted for survival, may matter more than ever.

9. Redwood Tree

Known for being the tallest trees on Earth, California’s coastal redwoods are living monuments, some reaching over 350 feet tall and living for more than 2,000 years. While they’re iconic and protected in many areas, a common question still surfaces: Are redwood trees endangered? The answer is complicated.

Redwoods aren’t critically endangered in the same way as species with only a few individuals left. However, they are still classified as endangered due to the long-term impacts of logging and habitat fragmentation. Over 95% of the original old-growth redwood forest has been cut down since the 19th century, leaving just narrow strips of protected groves along the California coast.

These trees aren’t just visually stunning, they’re ecological anchors. Their canopies capture fog and generate moisture, helping sustain surrounding forests even during drought. Their trunks create habitats for birds, mammals, and entire communities of organisms, while their massive root systems stabilize the soil and store carbon at an extraordinary level.

Although second-growth forests are being preserved and restored, climate change is emerging as a new threat. Shifts in temperature and moisture are affecting regeneration patterns, while wildfires are becoming more intense and frequent, even in historically fog-drenched zones.

So while redwoods may not be the rarest type of tree, they remain a critical part of any modern list of endangered trees, not just for their size, but for the role they play in preserving biodiversity, carbon balance, and natural heritage in the western United States.

10. Bermuda Cedar

Once the dominant tree across Bermuda’s landscape, the Bermuda Cedar was more than just a local species; it was the backbone of the island’s ecosystem and economy. Used historically for building homes, boats, and furniture, it was so common that early settlers believed the island would never run out. But in the 1940s, two accidentally introduced scale insects devastated the population, killing off nearly 95% of all Bermuda Cedars in just a few years.

This collapse wasn’t just the loss of a tree. It disrupted an entire web of biodiversity. Birds that depended on the cedar for nesting, like the endemic Bermuda white-eyed vireo, sharply declined. Insects, fungi, and understory plants that had evolved in conjunction with the cedar were also affected. It’s a stark reminder of how fast trees are going extinct and can drag other species down with them.

Today, thanks to careful restoration using resistant seedlings, the Bermuda Cedar is making a slow recovery. But it remains a shadow of its former presence and still faces challenges from invasive plant species and changing climate conditions.

Though lesser known globally, the Bermuda Cedar deserves a place on any thoughtful endangered trees list. It’s also a cautionary tale: even familiar, widespread species can become rare trees in just a generation, especially on isolated islands where ecosystems are tightly woven and highly vulnerable.

While these species are just a glimpse of a much longer list of endangered trees, many of which are disappearing quietly, without attention. Some are iconic, others obscure, but all serve a purpose beyond their appearance. They hold soil in place, feed wildlife, store carbon, and support biodiversity in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

Knowing their names is a start. Protecting them will take more than awareness, but awareness is where it begins.

Help Replant What the World’s Losing with Plantd

If reading about these endangered tree species opened your eyes, imagine what helping to restore them could do. And while some are on the edge, others still have a chance.

At Plantd, we go beyond just planting trees. We work to cultivate the right species in the right places, particularly those that restore ecosystems, support local biodiversity, and enhance community resilience. Whether it’s a rainforest giant or a forgotten island native, every tree planted is a step toward balance.

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With global reforestation projects, real community impact, and verified results you can track, Plantd turns action into lasting change. It’s a people-powered movement where every tree planted by individuals, teams, or businesses contributes to something bigger.  Together, we can protect rare trees, rebuild lost ecosystems, and support the communities that depend on them.

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