Botanical gardens of the Canary Islands. Flowers of the Canary Islands

Botanical gardens

Botanical garden La Orotava

    There are numerous public botanical gardens in the Canary Islands, which reflect the Canarians’ love of plants, not only those native to the region but also those brought from all over the world. Most of these gardens feature very varied collections, but some are dedicated to a single theme, such as cacti, orchids or palm trees. Of all of them, the most important are the Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Garden, the Viera y Clavijo Canarian Garden, and the Cactus Garden.
    The Botanical Garden is located in Puerto de la Cruz, in the north of the island of Tenerife, and was built and opened in the late 18th century, by order of King Charles III. Today it covers an area of over 20,000 square metres and is home to thousands of species from all five continents. It welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, thanks to its significant collection of native plants, as well as extensive collections of tropical and subtropical plants that are perfectly suited to the island’s climate and rarely found elsewhere in Europe. The garden’s paths wind their way through a riot of colours and fragrant scents, in the shade of its imposing trees and palm trees, and amidst an atmosphere of fresh air.
    The Viera y Clavijo Canarian Botanical Garden is situated on the slopes of the Guiniguada ravine, very close to the capital of Gran Canaria, and, covering an area of 27 hectares, it is the largest in Spain. It is dedicated primarily to the flowers and plants endemic to the Canary Islands, and to the species shared with the other Macaronesian islands: the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde. It was established by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria in 1952 with the aim of preserving and protecting the endemic flora of the Canary Islands, realising the dream of the eminent Swedish botanist Eric Sventenius, who carried out important studies on Canarian flora and served as director of the garden until his death in 1973. It is home to most of the endangered species among the nearly 600 endemic plants of the Canary Islands.
    The Cactus Garden is situated within a former volcanic sand quarry, located in the village of Guatiza on the island of Lanzarote. It is a single-theme garden, dedicated to cacti and other succulent plants, and is home to over 4,500 specimens of some 500 species from all five continents. It was designed by the great local artist César Manrique, who created an architectural design rich in decorative and sculptural elements that blend seamlessly with the surroundings, further enhancing their natural beauty. Considered one of the most important cactus gardens in the world, both for its rich collection of species and for its spectacular design, which combines architecture, sculpture, interior design and landscaping, it is one of the most visited places in Lanzarote.