Plant Life in Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands boast almost 2,000 different species of plants, out of which about 700 are endemic. Many of these are only of value to real botanists, but some of them are quite exceptional and can be seen in many places.

In mountainous areas at altitudes over 1,000 m (3,280ft) you will find the Canary Island Pine (pinus canarienses) growing up to 60 m, which because of its resinous bark can survive forest fires and live for hundreds of years. Its needles reach from 15-30 cm (6-12 in) in length. The Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) inhabits shrub lands and semi-desert regions. It is mainly an ornamental plant, as the edible fruit is generally considered too scanty to eat. One of the most unusual species to be found in the Canaries is the Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco). As it grows very slowly – a new branch with its characteristic tuft only developing from the stem after a blossoming, which happens about every ten years – they become very old and there are a few fine specimens to be found in the Canaries, which are said to be up to 650 years old.

One of the most common inhabitants of the laurel forests is the Canary Holly (Ilex canariensis), an evergreen tree also known as Small-Leaf Holly, whose bark has medicinal properties. In the highest regions of the islands grows the Canary Island Wallflower (erysimum scoparium), a woody, endemic shrub with pink-mauve flowers. Another native plant to be found is the Canary Island Spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), a cactus-like tree, with spindly arms reddish-green flowers. Also in dry, rocky areas thrives the white Tajinaste (Echium decaisnei), an endemic variety of borage, with sword-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers. The coastal basalt rocks are often covered by another distinctive native species, the fleshy Canary Samphire (Astydamia latifolia), which flowers in early spring, while the decorative Balsamic spurge (Euphorbia Balsamifera) is mainly to be found in semi-desert areas.

This is only to name some out of this abundance of native plants, whose growth is favoured by many microclimates, and which in addition to countless imported species from all corners of the world can be seen – for example – in the Jardin Botánico Viera y Clavijo (in Tafira – near the city of Las Palmas) and Cactualdea (a cacti park in San Nicolás de Tolentino) … or tour the island at your leisure and you’ll see a wide variety of colourful, exotic plants in all their beauty growing wild in their natural surroundings.