Heather

Heather is a dense, highly ramified shrub with fine leaves and pale or slightly pinkish flowers. Heather flowers have anti-inflammatory properties and can be used on skin irritations caused by insect bites.

Red bugloss

This branchless shrub, with a structure similar to a lance that can reach three metres in height, is endemic to the Canary Islands. Although there are many species of this plant, this variety can only be found in the Teide National Park, which has led to it being called the Mount Teide bugloss.

Chiguergue dragon tree

A legendary tree considered to be one of the symbols of Canary Island vegetation. There are more than 150 species of the tree, although the most famous is the Canary Island dragon tree, which is currently at risk of becoming extinct.

Thanks to its subtropical climate, this tree grows in Macaronesia, especially in the Canary Islands and Morocco. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the only islands where wild dragon trees can still be found, especially along shady and humid crags and ravine slopes.

Broom

Broom, also known as tagasaste or tree lucerne, has large lance-shaped leaves and white butterfly-shaped flowers.

Aeonium

The aeonium is a short-stemmed plant with large, round leaves like a rosette. This plant is endemic to the Canary Islands and can be found throughout the archipelago. Its most distinctive feature are the large leaves arranged in a circular pattern, all at the same height and measuring between 15 and 30 centimetres. The leaves do not wither, even after being picked off the plant.

Verode (Kleinia neriifolia)

This shrub with lance-shaped leaves is present on all the Canary Islands and is one of the most common shrubs in the archipelago. It tends to grow both on rocky terrain and on the trunks of palm trees, the roofs of houses, etc. The plant is reminiscent of a miniature dragon plant.

“Majorera” spurge (Euphorbia atropurpurea)

This shrub can grow to two metres in height and mainly appears in ravines, mountain slopes and sun-exposed terraces. Its red flowers have fruits with dark brown seeds.

Balsam spurge

This shrub is found in coastal areas exposed to the wind and is one of the most representative species of the tabaibal-cardonal plant formations that grow in low, coastal areas of the Canary Islands. It can reach two metres in height and has an oval-shaped or round flower.

Bitter spurge

This species is endemic to the islands.

Peralillo (Maytenus canariensis).

This is a small tree, endemic to the archipelago, and notable for its oval-shaped leaves and its fruits, capsules that vary from pale green to brown.

Wild olive tree

This bright green shrub can reach 12 metres in height. It is present on all the islands in the archipelago and grows in thermophilic woods.

The traditional stick used in the folk sport “fight stick” was mainly obtained from this tree, as depicted in the old saying: “Contra el acebuche, no hay palo que luche” (“Against the olive tree, no stick can fight”).

Canary Island juniper (Juniperus turbinata).

A small tree present on many of the Canary Islands. A plant symbol of the island of El Hierro, it is one of the most important species in the thermophilic woods. It is characterised by the bark on its trunk, which tends to be a reddish brown and turns greyish as it ages, and by its rounded crown, similar to that of a cypress.

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis).

This tree is a species of palm endemic to the Canary Islands. It is one of the most used palm trees in gardens due to its capacity to adapt and resist low temperatures. It is considered the natural symbol of the Canary Island Archipelago.

Bridal broom.

Broom is a shrub endemic to the islands of La Palma and Tenerife and it is one of the prevailing plant groups in Las Cañadas del Teide. In the past this shrub was used as sustenance and bedding for livestock and was at risk of becoming extinct. At present its use is only permitted for honey production.

Tabaibal-cardonal.

The tabaibal-cardonal is a plant formation typical in low, coastal areas of the Canary Island Archipelago. This plant is one of the most exotic shrubs on the islands and is characteristic of the archipelago, since by withstanding the lack of water and the intense sun, it has the appearance of a desert plant.

Gallot’s lizard.

Also known as the Western Canaries lizard, this lizard is autochthonous to the islands of La Palma and Tenerife. You can find it in stony areas, especially in rocks and rocky walls, in different habitats, from the coasts and the tabaibal-cardonal plant formation, to high mountain areas, except the laurel forest.

Common wall gecko.

The common wall gecko is a small reptile that can be found in several countries in the Mediterranean basin. Its usual colour is dark grey or brown, with variations from whiter greys to almost black, with lighter and darker spots. One of this reptile’s most distinctive features is its whitish abdomen that changes in colour intensity depending on the light its skin receives.

Tenerife gecko.

The Tenerife gecko is a lizard endemic to the Canary Islands, and specifically, to La Palma and Tenerife. It is small in size, measuring some 6 to 7 centimetres, and is grey in colour.

It uses the fine adhesive layer on its fingers to climb walls with great ease, inhabiting areas from sea level to 2,300 metres above sea level. It is also known as the Tenerife wall gecko.

Skink

The skink is a golden brown or bright red short-legged lizard with dark flanks and abdomen presenting light spots. This reptile is endemic to the islands of El Hierro, Tenerife and La Gomera and the youngest specimens can have a blue tail. You can find it under stones, bricks, etc.

Common buzzard

The buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey with a robust complexion and variable colouring. Its wings are short and very wide and when in full flight it can emit occasional sounds.

Berthelot’s pipit

The Berthelot’s pipit is a small bird autochthonous to the Canary Island Archipelago, the Savage Islands and Madeira. It can be seen flying in open areas and its cup-shaped nests can be spotted on the ground.

Tenerife blue chaffinch

The blue chaffinch is similar to the common chaffinch, although it is notably bigger and has a thicker bill. It is characterised by its grey bill and its more uniform plumage, among which the dark wings are not as noticeable. The females are a duller greyish brown, and can be distinguished from the common chaffinch by their narrower wing bars, while the males during the mating season are unmistakeable with their blue plumage, which turns to blueish grey for the rest of the year. They live in the interior part of the island of Tenerife and prefer habitats at between 1,100 and 2,000 metres above sea level.