An endemic flora
The Madeira archipelago is home to many endemic species. This is the case of the Madeira geranium (Geranium maderense) which grows mainly in the forest. Its slender, stiff stems are topped by a panel of small, bright pink flowers with a purple heart and its base has bushy, drooping foliage.
Rarer, the Imperatoria lowei (Imperatoria lowei) thrives in rocky and humid areas, forming long, pure stems topped by small yellow umbels. It was first classified by Thomas Lowe, who brought it closer to the Imperatoria (Eucedanum ostruthium) of the mountains of Central Europe and gave it its name to distinguish it.
Also worth mentioning is the widespread Madeira foxglove (Isoplexis spectrum), a shrub with long dark green leaves and dark orange flowers; the heather (Erica maderensis), equally widespread, with its clustered inflorescence dotted with small pink flowers (it grows in the mountains at over 1,200 metres above sea level) ; the Madeira violet, which also grows at high altitude; not forgetting the elegant viperine (Echium candicans), one of Madeira's most emblematic species. This herbaceous shrub (up to two metres high) has long ribbed leaves that allow it to absorb water drop by drop. Its small, intensely blue flowers develop into spikes. The Madeira orchid (Dactylorhiza foliosa/Orchis maderensis), finally, forms a pretty spike of small purple spotted flowers
Species from around the world
Originally from South Africa (and not Madeira as one might think!), strelitzia has become the island's plant emblem. It is more commonly known as the "bird of paradise" (its shape is reminiscent of a bird's head). A perennial plant, it has a bushy foliage with oblong leaves that open in a fan shape. Its thick floral stem is topped by a bright orange flower with a blue contrast. Another species native to Africa, the bearded protea (Protea neriifolia) has red petals assembled in a ball like scales and ending in a row of hairs ... hence its nickname "bearded". Very widespread in Madeira, the African agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus) has a long rigid stem flanked by a circular cluster of small blue flowers. The astonishing Chorisia speciosa with its thorny trunk, imported from America, produces beautiful pink flowers in winter. The dwarf banana tree was imported from Asia. Finally, hydrangeas, bougainvilleas, camellias, hibiscus and poinsettias complete the list of the most represented ornamental species in Madeira's floral landscape
The art of the garden
You don't need to go far to get acquainted with the profusion of flowers that invade Madeira Island. In the parks, tropical and botanical gardens or quintas that dot the capital, you can already admire a surprising collection of tropical or endemic plants and flowers. For the art of gardening has been cultivated in Madeira for centuries: one only has to admire the sophisticated compositions of the Quinta do Palheiro garden, east of Funchal, to get an idea of the magnificence of Madeiran gardens. This English-style garden, with its array of more than 3,000 plant species, has been owned by the Blandy family since 1885. In the alleys of the botanical garden of Funchal, created in 1960, rare and endemic species have a privileged place. But its three hectares concentrate a wide variety of plant species from the five continents (cacti, succulents, palms, orchids...). Then, still on the heights of the city, the garden lovers will not miss the alleys of the tropical garden of Monte Palace which surrounds the former residence of the British consul Charles Murray, bought in 1987 by the businessman José Berardo. Finally, in the north of the island, the Quinta do Arco rose garden has one of the largest concentrations of rosebushes in Portugal
