Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A botanical garden in Tenerife devoted to palms from islands worldwide
This 30-acre garden in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, is built on a former landfill and features over 600 species of palms, many from islands across the globe. Visitors find themed sections, waterfalls, a palm museum, and a shade house, all maintained without pesticides or fertilizers.
- Built on a reclaimed landfill near the ocean
- Features over 600 species of palms from around the world
- Divided into sections for different island regions
- Home to many rare and endangered palm species
- Open daily with educational programs and guided tours
What is Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
The Palmetum is a large botanical garden set on an artificial hill overlooking the Atlantic. Its main focus is palms, with about 600 species arranged in sections that reflect their native regions, especially islands. The grounds include streams, ponds, waterfalls, and a shade house for delicate plants. Visitors can explore winding paths among palms, see wild birds, and visit a museum dedicated to palms. The garden is pesticide-free and features both mature palms and rare species, some critically endangered.
The history of Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Work on the Palmetum began in 1995, transforming a closed landfill into a garden with support from the city and European Union. The site was designed by a team of botanists and landscape architects, with the first plantings in the late 1990s. After several pauses due to funding, major construction and planting resumed in the 2000s, and the garden opened to the public in 2014. It was officially recognized as a botanical garden in 2015 and now collaborates with other institutions for conservation and research.
What there is to see
The garden is divided into biogeographical sections, each representing palms and plants from a specific region, such as the Caribbean, Madagascar, or Australia. Water features and hills shape the landscape. Delicate species grow in a large shade house called El Octógono. The nursery complex supports research and plant care, with each area tailored for different needs. The garden is managed without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and many plants are grown from seed for conservation.
When to go
Open daily, the Palmetum welcomes both locals and tourists. It offers educational programs, guided tours, and exchanges with botanical gardens worldwide. The garden is a place for learning about palms, conservation, and island plants. Birdwatchers may spot various wild species in the grounds. The palm museum and exhibitions add to the visitor experience, though some facilities remain unfinished or closed.
Parts and collections
The Palmetum’s collection is notable for its diversity of palms, especially those from islands. It holds major collections of Caribbean genera like Thrinax and Coccothrinax, and features rare and endangered species such as Coccothrinax borhidiana and Tahina spectabilis. Other sections highlight palms from Madagascar, Australia, Melanesia, and more, with each area landscaped to reflect its region. Some sections, like those for New Guinea and Borneo, are not yet open to visitors.
Why Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife matters
The garden plays a role in conserving rare and endangered palms, with many species listed by the IUCN. It produces seeds for ex situ conservation and has mature specimens of critically endangered palms. The Palmetum also serves as an educational resource and a destination for botanical tourism in the Canary Islands. Its transformation from landfill to garden is seen as a model of environmental renewal.
Questions people ask about Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Where is the Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife located?
It is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. The garden is set on an artificial hill near the ocean, in the Cabo Llanos district.
What can visitors see at the Palmetum?
Visitors can explore themed sections with palms from islands worldwide, walk among streams and waterfalls, visit a palm museum, and see rare and endangered species. There are also wild birds and a large shade house for tropical plants.
What is special about the plant collection?
The Palmetum focuses on palms, especially those native to islands. It has over 600 species, including many that are rare or critically endangered, and holds some of the world’s best collections of Caribbean palms.
How did the Palmetum come to be?
The garden was created on a former landfill, with work starting in 1995. After years of development and planting, it opened to the public in 2014 and is now a recognized botanical garden.
Does the Palmetum support plant conservation?
Yes, it grows many endangered palms and produces seeds for conservation. The garden works with other institutions to help protect rare species and serves as an educational resource.
Good reading and sources
- Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). 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.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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