A bacterial strain designated AMTAE16T was isolated from a root of wheat in Spain. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolate in the genus Paenibacilluswith its closest relative being Paenibacillus daejeonensis AP-20T with 99.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed a mean of 30 % DNADNA relatedness between strain AMTAE16T and the type strain of P. daejeonensis. The isolate was a Gram-stainvariable, motile and sporulating rod. Catalase and oxidase activities were positive. Gelatin and starch were hydrolysed but not casein. Growth was supported by many carbohydrates and organic acids as carbon source. MK-7 was the only menaquinone detected and anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, four unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified lipids. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 55.4 mol%. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses showed that strain AMTAE16T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus hispanicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AMTAE16T(=LMG 29501T=CECT 9124T).