The flora reflects the island's range of vegetation belts: cardonal-tabaibal scrub, palm groves, pine forests, remnants of laurel forest and vegetation adapted to dry ravines.
An island of contrasts: urban coastline, rugged relief and high interior summits behind its 'miniature continent' nickname. Vegetation makes humidity, wind, salinity, altitude and volcanic soils legible.
Among its main reference points are Historic Las Palmas, Aboriginal landscape, Natural contrasts, which connect landscape, memory and everyday life. Flora also preserves traces of traditional uses, cultivation and environmental change.
Key points
Cardonal-tabaibal scrub in the south
The arid south is home to extensive communities of cardones and tabaibas, with Canary palms in the hollows and halophytic scrub along the coast.
The palm grove of Fataga
The Fataga palm grove is one of the best preserved in the archipelago, set in a ravine whose climate favours Phoenix canariensis, the palm endemic to the Canary Islands.
Remnant laurel forest in the north
Although greatly reduced by centuries of agricultural pressure, the north still preserves fragments of laurel forest on its wettest slopes, with til, laurel and other relict species.
Endemic plants of the summit
The summit area harbours exclusive endemics such as the rosal de guia and the perpetua de risco, along with other plants adapted to high altitude and persistent cloud cover.
Species of Gran Canaria
Dragon tree
Dracaena draco
An emblematic tree of the Canarian landscape, recorded by BIOTA as securely native and not endemic.
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Canary Island date palm
Phoenix canariensis
An endemic palm of the archipelago and one of the islands’ most characteristic plant silhouettes.
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Canary Island pine
Pinus canariensis
An endemic conifer shaping pine forests in uplands and high mid-elevation zones of several islands.
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Canary Island spurge
Euphorbia canariensis
An endemic spurge that names the cardonal, a key plant formation of the Canarian basal belt.
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Viñátigo
Persea indica
A tree of the Canarian laurel forest, securely native according to BIOTA and not endemic to the archipelago.
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Adenocarpus foliolosus
Adenocarpus foliolosus
Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Aichryson bituminosum
Aichryson bituminosum
Endemic crassula with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Allagopappus viscosissimus
Allagopappus viscosissimus
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Anagyris latifolia
Anagyris latifolia
Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Andryala perezii
Andryala perezii
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Arbutus canariensis
Arbutus canariensis
Endemic tree or shrub with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Argyrolobium armindae
Argyrolobium armindae
Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Artemisia ramosa
Artemisia ramosa
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Artemisia thuscula
Artemisia thuscula
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Asparagus arborescens
Asparagus arborescens
Endemic Asparagaceae plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Asteriscus sericeus
Asteriscus sericeus
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Athamanta montana
Athamanta montana
Endemic umbellifer with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Atractylis preauxiana
Atractylis preauxiana
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Bencomia brachystachya
Bencomia brachystachya
Endemic rose-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Bosea yervamora
Bosea yervamora
Endemic shrub with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Bryonia verrucosa
Bryonia verrucosa
Endemic climber with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Bystropogon canariensis
Bystropogon canariensis
Endemic mint-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Calendula sventenii
Calendula sventenii
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Camptoloma canariense
Camptoloma canariense
Endemic figwort-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Campylanthus salsoloides
Campylanthus salsoloides
Endemic plantain-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Carduus clavulatus
Carduus clavulatus
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Carex canariensis
Carex canariensis
Endemic sedge with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Carlina canariensis
Carlina canariensis
Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Cedronella canariensis
Cedronella canariensis
Endemic mint-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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Ceropegia fusca
Ceropegia fusca
Endemic dogbane-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.
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