🇪🇸 The flowers of Spain
90 pages from Spain: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 26 cities and regions.
Spain is home to more species of flowering plants than any other European country, with a remarkable variety shaped by its mountains, coasts, islands, and climate zones. About a quarter of these plants are found nowhere else. Remnants of oak and pine forests, Mediterranean shrublands, and unique island flora set Spain's plant life apart.
The plant life of Spain
Spain's plant life is shaped by its varied geography and climates, from the high plateaus and mountain ranges of the mainland to the distinct environments of the Canary and Balearic Islands. The country supports between 8,000 and 9,000 species of vascular plants, more than anywhere else in Europe. Mediterranean forests once covered much of the interior, dominated by holm and cork oaks, but now dense shrublands called maquis are common. Pine forests thrive on sandy and limestone soils, while river valleys and the northwest coast hold remnants of deciduous woodlands. The southeast features subtropical steppe vegetation.
From region to region in Spain
Flora changes sharply across Spain. The north, with its oceanic climate, supports lush deciduous forests. The Mediterranean interior and coast are home to oak and pine woodlands and dense shrublands. Higher elevations see Pyrenean oak, Scots pine, and juniper. The southeast is drier, with steppe-like plants. The Canary and Balearic Islands each have their own sets of unique species, some not found on the mainland.
Flowers to know in Spain
Spain has a high number of endemic flowering plants—822 on the mainland and 103 in the Balearics. Some species, like borage and wild arum, grow almost everywhere in the country, including the islands. Others, such as the southern maidenhair fern and Cynoglossum creticum, are widespread but absent from some eastern Canary Islands. The natural forests that once dominated are now mostly replaced by shrublands and scattered trees.
Threats and protection in Spain
A significant portion of Spain's endemic plants are threatened, more so than in any other European country. About 27% of the land is protected through parks and reserves, as part of the Natura 2000 network. Conservation efforts focus on safeguarding rare species and habitats, especially in the islands and mountainous regions.
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Wildlife of Spain", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
Flower experiences in Spain
🇪🇸 Barcelona · All yearThe flower kiosks of La RamblaA stretch of Barcelona's central promenade lined with flower kiosks since the nineteenth century, busiest on 23 April.
🇪🇸 Granada · Apr to OctThe Generalife gardens above the AlhambraThe summer estate of Granada's Nasrid rulers, where water channels run between roses, myrtle, jasmine and orange trees.
🇪🇸 Plasencia · Mar to AprCherry blossom in the Jerte valleyA mountain valley in Extremadura where terraces of cherry orchards flower white together for about ten days in early spring.
🇪🇸 Córdoba · MayThe patios of Córdoba in MayFor two weeks each May, families in Córdoba's old quarters open their flower-filled courtyards to anyone who walks in.Cities and regions of Spain
Place
AlhambraLa Alhambra
Medieval palace and fortress complex overlooking Granada, Spain
Granada, 🇪🇸 Spain · Flower garden
Place
Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
The main botanical garden of the Canary Islands, near Las Palmas on Gran Canaria
Las Palmas, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Place
Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A botanical garden in Tenerife devoted to palms from islands worldwide
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Place
Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
A botanical garden on Montjuïc hill with plants from Mediterranean climates worldwide
Barcelona, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Place
Botanical Garden of ValenciaJardí Botànic
A historic university botanical garden in the heart of Valencia, Spain
Valencia, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Place
La Concepción Botanical Historical GardenJardín Botánico Histórico La Concepción
A historic subtropical botanical garden at the edge of Málaga, Spain
Málaga, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Place
Generalifeجَنَّة الْعَرِيف
Historic hillside gardens and palace beside the Alhambra in Granada
Granada, 🇪🇸 Spain · Flower garden
Place
Parc de Cervantes
A rose garden park in Barcelona with sculptures and open lawns
Barcelona, 🇪🇸 Spain · Flower garden
Place
Royal Botanic Garden of MadridReal Jardín Botánico -Csic
Madrid’s historic garden with over 90,000 plants and a major herbarium
Madrid, 🇪🇸 Spain · Botanical garden
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Parc de Cervantes: Canaan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Noemi M.M., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jardí Botànic de Barcelona: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Botanical Garden of Valencia: Joanbanjo, Public domain, source
- Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source
- La Concepción Botanical Historical Garden: Panarria, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Generalife: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid: Håkan Svensson (Xauxa), CC BY 2.5, source
- Jerte Valley Cherry Blossom: DavidGranda, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rambla De Les Flors Barcelona: Ralf Roletschek, GFDL 1.2, source
- Cordoba Patios Route: Jose María Ligero Loarte, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Spain: User:Captain Blood~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, source