Plant species of La Palma

La Palma, an island renowned for its lush greenery, owes its rich landscape to the moist winds that sweep in from the sea, nurturing the thriving damp forests. However, despite its green allure, La Palma is also a land of aridity. We only found two small streams on very isolated locations. Most of the water is diverted for human consumption. Even on the highest peaks, the water is collected and sent down with pipes. Thus, don't expect to encounter large rivers or lakes on La Palma. Nevertheless, the resilient vegetation has adapted remarkably to the prevailing climate. Even after a fire, a lush green cover of vegetation emerges within one year, showcasing nature's resilience.

The island's numerous gorges harbor pockets of moisture, providing fertile grounds for a diverse array of plant species to flourish. Many of these plants are endemic to the Canary Islands, with some species exclusive to La Palma itself. The 'recent' volcanic areas of the island are particularly captivating for plant enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into the colonization process of these volcanic landscapes by various plant species. At higher elevations (with snow in March!), even alpine-like vegetation can be found, exhibiting a unique La Palma version of the alpine flora, rich in endemic plants. However, I must admit that March may not be the ideal time to witness these endemic wonders.

Please note that the following list is not exhaustive; it highlights the plants described in the Kosmos-Kanarenflora by Schönfelder, providing valuable insights into the island's fascinating flora.

Useful identification keys and publications

• M. Angel Cabrera Perez: Native flora of the Canary Islands (published appr. 1997).
• D. and Z. Bramwell: Kanarische Flora, illustrierter Führer (Madrid 1983).
• D. and Z. Bramwell: Wild Flowers of the Canary Islands (London 1974).
• A. and W. Hohenester: Exkursionsflora für die Kanarischen Inseln (Stuttgart 1993).
• G. Kunkel: Die Kanarischen Inseln und ihre Pflanzenwelt (Stuttgart/New York 1980).
• H. Moeller: Kanarische Pflanzenwelt I and II (Puorto de la Cruz 1967).
• A. Santos: Flora y vegetación de La Palma (Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1983).
• H.H. Schaeffer: Pflanzen der Kanarischen Inseln / Plants of the Canary Islands (Ratzeburg 1967).
• P. and I. Schönfelder: Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora (Stuttgart 1994).

List of the recorded plant species

Ferns
Cheilanthes marantae
Cheilanthes vellea
Adiantum reniforme
Pteris vittata
Polypodium macaronesicum
Asplenium hemionites
Asplenium filare
Dryopteris oligodonta
Davallia canariensis
Woodwardia radicans

Pinaceae
Pinus canariensis

Salicaceae
Salix canariensis

Fagaceae
Castanea sativa

Myricaceae
Myrica faya

Urticaceae
Forsskoalea angustifolia
Gesnouinia arborea
Parietaria filamentosa

Polygonaceae
Rumex lunaria
Rumex maderensis
 
Chenopodiaceae
Patellifolia patellaris
Patellifolia procumbens
Beta macrocarpa

Amaranthaceae
Achyranthes sicula
Bosea yervamora

Aizoaceae
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia canariensis
Polycarpaea nivea
Polycarpaea aristata

Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus cortusifolius

Lauraceae
Laurus azorica
Persea indica

Papaveraceae
Argemone ochroleuca
Argemone mexicana
Eschscholzia californica
Fumaria coccinea

Brassicaceae
Descurainia gilva
Descurainia millefolia
Erysimum bicolor
Arabis caucasica
Lobularia canariensis ssp. canariensis
Lobularia canariensis ssp. palmensis
Crambe strigosa

Crassulaceae
Aeonium palmense
Aeonium goochiae
Aeonium spathulatum
Aeonium holochrysum
Aeonium davidbramwellii
Greenovia aurea
Monanthes polyphylla
Monanthes muralis
Aichryson laxum
Aichryson punctatum

Rosaceae
Rubus bollei

Fabaceae
Chamaecytisus proliferus
Spartocytisus proliferus
Spartocytisus supranubius
Spartocytisus filipes
Adenocarpus foliosus
Teline stenopetala
Psoralea bituminosa
Lathyrus tingitanus
Lathyrus clymenum
Lathyrus sphaericus

Oxalidaceae
Oxalis pes-caprae

Geraniaceae
Geranium canariense

Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia albiflora

Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia basamifera
Euphorbia canariensis

Aquifoliaceae
Ilex canariensis

Hypericaceae
Hypericum humifusum
Hypericum canariense
Hypericum glandulosum

Cistaceae
Cistus symphytifolius
Cistus monspeliensis

Frankeniaceae
Frankenia ericifolia

Cucurbitaceae
Bryonia verrucosa

Cactaceae
Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia dillenii

Apiaceae
Drusa glandulosa
Pimpinella cumbrae
Pimpinella dendrotragium
Tinguarra cervariaefolia
Todaroa aurea
Astydamia latifolia
Cryptotaenia elegans
Torilis arvensis
Ferula linkii

Ericaceae
Erica arborea

Oleaceae
Jasminum odoratissimum

Asclepiadaceae
Periploa laevigata

Rubiaceae
Phyllis nobla
Rubia fruticosa
Rubia agosinhoi
Galium scabrum

Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus altheoides
Convolvulus siculus
Convolvulus floridus

Boraginaceae
Myosotis latifolia
Echium brevirame
Echium wildpretii

Lamiumaceae
Stachys ocymastrum
Stachys arvensis
Siderites barbellata
Satureja herpyllomorpha
Lavendula multifida

Solanaceae
Nicotiana glauca
Scropularisceae
Scrophularia glabrata
Scrophularia smithii

Plantaginaceae
Plantago lagopus

Campanulaceae
Campanula erinus
Wahlenbergia lobelioides
Canarina canariensis

Asteraceae
Ageratina adenophora
Ageratina riparia
Erigeron karvinskianus
Phagnalon umbelliforme
Gonospermum canariense
Agyranthemum webbii
Agyranthemum adauctum ssp. palmensis
Artemisia thuscula
Pericallis papyracea
Carduus clavulatus
Volutaria canariensis
Tolpis laciniata
Sonchus hierrensis
Sonchus palmensis
Sonchus arboreus

Dioscoreaceae
Tamus edulis

Smilacaceae
Smilax aspera

Juncaceae
Ebingeria elegans
Tetrapogon villosus
Pennisetum setaceum
Cenchrus ciliarus

Arecaceae
Phoenix canariensis

Araceae
Dracunculus canariensis

Orchidaceae
Gennaria diphylla
Serapias parviflora
Cultivated plants
Bougainvillea glabra
Acacia saligna
Caesalpinia gilliesii
Cassia didymobrotya
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Plumbago auriculata
Thevetia peruviana
Ipomoea indica
Lantana camara
Pyrostegia venusta
Tecomaria capensis