Lanzarote, an island in bloom

Palm trees offering cool shade around the pools and plazas of Sands Beach Resort hotel, can easily be taken for granted, just like the other varied species of plants and flowers that give Lanzarote such a colourful landscape. Once you and your family start to explore, you will soon discover a garden of natures wonders, blooming in front of you.

Many people assume that only palms and cactus plants can grow in the dark volcanic soil of Lanzarote but the mineral rich lava deposits help to nurture all sorts of growth. Starting with those 2 most obvious species, we have the palm tree, in it’s traditional form and also the Washington palm with larger spanned leaves. The best place to find a large collection of both types of palm is Haria, in the north, it’s called the Valley of the 1,000 palms. Cactus also come in 2 main varieties, the upright prickly pear and the squat round mother in laws seat, to use it’s common nickname. Both played an important part in the economic history of the Canary Islands, as they were home to the Cocheneal beetle that produced a clothing dye that was the islands main export before bananas.

For prettier flowers, nothing catches the eye like Bouganvillea, the climbing purple flowering plant that clings to walls and buildings. How about the Yucca, distinct with it’s white flower produced from it’s spikey leaves, or the Poinsettia, with it’s bright red flower, used to adorn roundabouts and roadsides, always a particular favourite at christmas.

These are just the tip of a wealth of plants and shrubs that you can find all over Lanzarote. Admire and enjoy them but please don’t pick them, take a nice picture, and savour the beauty at your leisure.