More than 16,000 plant species worldwide have become what scientists call “naturalized aliens” —species that have established themselves far from home, mostly due to human activity. ⁠ ⁠ But why do some plants thrive abroad while others fail? ⁠ ⁠ To answer this question, researchers led by the University of Konstanz in Germany compared the spread of 3,920 native plant species across 10 European countries with their naturalization worldwide. What they found was that plants that thrive and expand within their native ranges are far more likely to naturalize elsewhere. ⁠ Plants declining at home rarely find a footing abroad. ⁠ ⁠ The team also found a winning combination of traits that make some plants thrive both locally and globally: tall stature, adaptability, competitiveness, and a preference for nutrient-rich habitats. ⁠ “In general, these are tall, ecologically versatile generalists that thrive under rich conditions,” says Rashmi Paudel, the study’s first author. “This may indicate the...