To find the geographical distribution pattern of the National Level Ⅱ wild protected plant Platycrater arguta and to understand its geographical migration patterns with climate change, DIVA-GIS software and its integrated BIOCLIM and DOMAIN models were used in combination with 80 precision distribution points. Distribution point information was used to forecast the potential distribution area and analysis included the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve test for the main climatic factors affecting distribution and a principal component analysis. The precise distribution information of P. arguta was imported into DIVA-GIS software, and the potential distribution area of P. arguta was predicted through the modelling panel. Prediction results from the two models both indicated that current potential distribution areas of P. arguta were concentrated at the junction of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian Provinces in China as well as Shikoku Island in Japan. The optimum living area for P. arguta was greatly reduced with future climate estimates, and the low-grade habitat area shifted overall to the west and to higher altitudes. The ROC curve test showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of both models reached more than 0.9 indicating that model prediction results were credible. The principal component analysis of 19 climatic variables showed that annual precipitation (BIO12), the most humid seasonal precipitation (BIO16), and the warmest seasonal precipitation (BIO18) were the major climatic factors that affected distribution of Platycrater arguta indicating that water was the main factor. Thus, research and protection strategies should be carried out based on predicted distribution areas.