The species is endemic to Greece, its range is very restricted, and it's considered to be scarce (Lafranchis and Sfikas 2009). The area of occupancy (AOO) is 12 km², the extent of occurrence (EOO) is 71.753 km² and it occurs at three locations. The species is not severely fragmented and there is no information available concerning the number and composition of subpopulations nor the number of mature individuals. Although there is no evidence indicating continuing decline nor extreme fluctuations regarding the population, there are current threats that cause the species' habitat to decline in quality and/or extent. The species meets the criterion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), and it has therefore been assessed as Endangered (EN).

The species is endemic to Greece. It has a restricted distribution, as it can be found in the floristic region of North Central Greece, and more specifically in Thessaly, on the east and northern foothills of Mt Olympos (Lafranchis and Sfikas 2009). It was discovered by Heldreich in 1851 in the foothills of Mt Olympos, in a location described as “near Mitrochi to Eleoterochori” (Beauverd 1916). After extensive survey of local geographical names (villages, peaks, valleys etc.), no such locations were found near Olympos, which indicated that the Greek location names have been misspelled.

The locations with the most similar names would be the villages “Neo Eleftherochori (Methoni)” and “Palaio Eleftherochori” which are, however, more than 28 km and 30 km away respectively from the northern foothills of Mt Olympos, as well as the village “Mikro Eleftherochori”, which is more than 8.5 km from the southern foothills of Olympos. It seems most likely that the name “Eleoterochori” is a misspelling of the town “Litochoro”, which is located on the northeast foothills of Mt Olympos, has had several different spellings (Λυτόχωρον [Lytochoron], Λειτόχωρον [Leitochoron], Λητόχωρον [Litochoron], Λιθόχωρον [Lithochoron], Λιτοχώρι [Litochori], is thought to have common the same word root with “Eleftherochori” (Nezis 2003) and, most importantly, is the starting point of the standard route Heldreich followed in 1851 in his excursion to Mt Olympos (Strid 2020).

The species was also discovered by Orphanides at the foot of Mt. Olympos near “Skala” (Halácsy 1902). “Skala” is the local name for the area where the Metochi (i.e. land belonging to a monastery) of the monastery “Moni Agiou Dionysiou en Olympo” can be found, close to the town Litochoro (Nezis 2003). It is therefore likely that the name “Mitrochi” described by Heldreich refers to the Metochi of “Moni Agiou Dionysiou en Olympo”. This location matches both the elevational requirements of the species (as it is found at 400 m) and its habitat requirements, as it is characterised by sclerophyllous vegetation (corine code 323: Bushy sclerophyllous vegetation, including maquis and garrigue).

There is a record of this species 67 km away from Olympos, south east of Lake Vegoritis, near the village of Pirgi. Although, this location is far away from the species' known historical range (Mt Olympos), we can safely assume that the record is correct.

In addition, there are records of the species in the floristic region of North East Greece, near the towns Vathytopo, Nevrokopi and Drama. These records are in North East Greece, well outside the species' floristic region where it is known to occur (North Central Greece).

Finally, it is worth mentioning that there is a record without coordinates of the species in Slovenia, in the location “Podgorski kras” (Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Biology n.d.), as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the location “Trebinje Hercegovinae”, which makes it possible the species exists in other localities linking these regions to Thessaly, Greece (Beauverd 1916).

For the purposes of this assessment, the records in the foothills of Mt Olympos and near the village of Pirgi, were taken into account.

The species was collected by Heldreich in 1851 and Orphanidis in 1857 and not rediscovered until 1976 (Mitsara 2012). It is considered to be a scarce endemic (Lafranchis and Sfikas 2009). Since the species grows on relatively low altitudes (300-900 m), near roads and settlements, it could be pressured by human activities.

The species grows among the evergreen scrub (Boissier 1856) at the east and northern foothills of Olympos in Thessaly. It occurs at an altitude range of 300-900 m (Lafranchis and Sfikas 2009).

There is not enough known about the threats to this species. Since the species grows on relatively low altitudes (300-900 m), near roads and settlements, it could be pressured by human activities. Some of threats recorded in the Natura 2000 sites where this species is located (grazing, fire, removal of hedges and copses or scrub (which could potentially alter the species' habitat), roads, paths, tracks, cycling tracks) should be taken into consideration. The northern subpopulation is located among small-holder cultivation fields. Moreover, the expansion of the urban areas affects the species habitat.

Individuals of this species may be gathered for research purposes or to be replanted in botanical gardens (live or dead specimens collected by botanists). It's also possible that individuals of this species are gathered by collectors or by tourists (for personal pleasure).

Roughly 68% of its AOO is located within a Category IV (habitat or species management area) IUCN Protected Area, and more specifically the following SCI Natura 2000 site: GR1250001.

The species has three locations. Some of the populations of the species could be destroyed by a number of threats, such as overgrazing or fire. It is recommended that the species is conserved ex-situ, e.g. in a botanical garden or a seed bank. In addition, it would be beneficial for the species' population size, and trends to be researched and monitored.

Furthermore, research is recommended to verify some of the records where the species has been observed.

The species is included in national legislation, and more specifically in the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981 “about the protection of the native flora and fauna…” (Greek Off.J. F.E.K.A’ 23/30.1.1981, corrected by F.E.K.A’ 43/18.2.1981).