Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo

Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo spreads across nearly twenty-seven hectares of terraced ravine in Spain. Palm groves frame the main approaches. Dragon trees, shaded paths and planted terraces lead through contrasting scenes, from broad crowns to sculptural spines. A cactus garden holds more than two thousand cacti and succulents.

The garden protects over five hundred plants native to the Canary Islands, including many endangered species. Swedish botanist Eric Sventenius began the work in 1952. His grave rests beneath the laurel woods he planted. Cool, humid laurisilva sections evoke older island forests, while a small greenhouse recreates tropical vegetation. The seven-thousand-square-metre Jardín de las Islas groups endemic plants by their island of origin.

Macaronesian collections and a world garden bring plants from different regions together. At the centre, a fountain honours botanists who studied the islands. Look back among the dragon trees and laurel shade, where Sventenius’s planted vision continues to grow.