Plant Life in Lanzarote

Unlike other islands of the Canary archipelago, Lanzarote is not varying very much in altitudes and has no high mountains at all – the highest peak, Peñas del Chache near Haría, reaching only 670 m (2,198 ft) above sea level. This fact as well as the, geologically speaking, recent layers of volcanic material covering large areas of the island and the arid climate, with little rainfall and no frost – which would break down the volcanic rock into soil more rapidly – determine the environment for Lanzarote’s flora.

Surprisingly, despite these hostile conditions, Lanzarote gathers around 612 plant species, many of which are endemic to the Canary Islands and have great botanical value. Around twenty species are endemic to Lanzarote. What will strike you first is that you won’t find many trees on the island, with the pleasant exception of hundreds of Canary palms (Phoenix canariensis) thriving in the valley of Haría. The mythical dragon tree (Dracaena draco), which has a long history on other islands of the Canaries, can also be seen a bit everywhere.

The most common plants to be found on Lanzarote’s vast malpaís, or badlands, are mosses (Bryophyta) and lichens, while the Canary houseleek (Aeonium canariense) predominates in cracks and fissures. In scrubland areas prevail various species of Spurges (Euphorbiaceae) – drought-resistant plants that produce a bitter, milky juice, such as the cactus-like Candelabra spurge (Euphorbia canariensis) and the Wild Spurge (Euphorbia obtusifolia) with greenish-yellowish flowers. Near the coast, where – in addition to being drought-resistant – the plants have to be also salt-tolerant in order to survive, you will find Canary Sea-lavender (Limonium tuberculatum), Sea-plantain (Plantago aschersonii) and Sea grape (Zigophyllum fontanesii).

Lanzarote’s areas with greater botanical value, where you will find many of the before-mentioned plants, are the Famara cliffs on the north coast, the La Corona malpaís (badlands) in the north-eastern part of the island and the Los Ajaches high plain in the southeast.

Hotel grounds, public parks and private gardens are abundant with many beautiful exotic plants and shrubs, mostly belonging to those species that were brought to the island from other parts of the world. Besides the all-present bird of paradise (strelitzia), you will find here brightly coloured bougainvilleas, geraniums, hibiscuses and some small trees, such as jacaranda and mimosa – just to name some of them.