The granting of patents on plant life leads to overlaps between plant variety protection law and patent law. This complicates the distinction between the two protection systems. The work provides an answer to the question of what motivations have led to the application of patent law to plant life and what possibilities exist to counteract the tension between plant variety protection and patent law. After presenting the historical development of variety and patent protection for plants, as well as an examination of the relevant case law, various approaches to solutions are introduced within the framework of the work, which attempt to address the conflict relationship.