Pimelea spinescens Rye subspecies spinescens is an endemic subshrub found within temperate grasslands of the Victorian volcanic plains. It is listed as critically endangered under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Efforts to bolster populations using horticultural techniques have been largely unsuccessful. For long-term survival it is necessary to successfully germinate seed and employ methods which encourage wild populations to reproduce in situ. The aim of this research was to identify which factors of the biology, ecology and management of P. spinescens populations, significantly affect the species’ in situ recruitment potential.