Canary Islands Vegetation: A Guide to Plant Life & Adaptations

Posted on Mar 25, 2025 in Geology

Vegetation of the Canary Islands

Vegetation: The archipelago boasts over 1800 plant species, with 50% being endemic.

Climate: Temperature decreases with altitude (approximately 1°C per 100m in dry air, 0.5°C per 100m with moisture). At the same altitude, southern areas experience higher temperatures than northern areas. Rainfall and cloud cover are more prevalent in the north due to trade winds, creating humid air between 500-1500m, known as the “sea of clouds,” leading to “horizontal rain” and specialized plant adaptations.
Soil: Diverse soil types exist, including rocky badlands, sandy soils, and altered soils with varying acidity.
Topography: Altitude significantly contributes to plant diversification, particularly in Tenerife.
Biotic Factors: Human activity causes the regression of many ecosystems through the introduction of non-native species that compete with native flora.

Climate: Low rainfall and high temperatures year-round, averaging 20°C and 100-350mm of rainfall. Stony soils with little organic matter.
Plant Adaptations: Abundant shrub and succulent plants that store water. Thick stems and thorny gorse are common. Plants may have reduced leaves or even spines. After rainfall, they develop leaves, flowers, and fruit. They have low chlorophyll content due to high insolation. Some secrete latex as a defense mechanism, while others have edible fruits that aid in seed dispersal. Examples include sweet spurge, tamarisks, and cardoncillos.
Animal Adaptations: Invertebrates are abundant, with endemism associated with cacti and tabaibas, feeding on dead leaves, aphids, or larvae (e.g., moths, beetles). Vertebrates, such as reptiles, thrive in the sunlight with thick, scaly skin (e.g., geckos, lizards). Birds nest in rocks and feed on insects (e.g., gulls, roadrunners).

Climate: Less affected by the sea of clouds, resulting in slightly contrasting conditions. High insolation with 350-600mm of rainfall and an annual average of 18°C. Few showers.
Plant Adaptations: Abundant xeric scrub. The mountain is green in the north and pine forest in the south. Plants have small leaves and extensive root systems to search for water. Common species include dragon trees, lentiscals, and junipers. Flowering plants are evergreen.
Animal Adaptations: Both nocturnal and diurnal raptors are present. Insects are often endemic. Many introduced birds, shrews, squirrels, and robins are common.

Climate: Annual average of 16°C and 800-900mm of rainfall. Constant rainfall due to the sea of clouds, resulting in horizontal rain.
Plant Adaptations: Leaves have a central channel to capture horizontal rain. Dark leaf color due to high chlorophyll content, with relatively large leaves. Many stomata on the upper leaf surface for transpiration. Perennial plants. Tall logs, bark, and trees to reach for light. Viscous fruits for animal seed dispersal. Examples include Granada, Mocan, and mastic trees.
Animal Adaptations: Many insects (moths and butterflies). Predatory birds feed on fruits, seeds, and other birds. Nesting occurs in gullies and trees. Introduced mammals with waterproof hair (e.g., urchins).

Climate: Annual average of 13.3°C with winter frosts. 698mm of rainfall. Common in islands like La Palma.
Plant Adaptations: Pines have atria to capture horizontal rain, high resistance to insect pests, and can survive fires. Shortage of shrub and herbaceous plants. Markedly xeric conditions. Other plants include laburnum and heather.
Animal Adaptations: Bird beaks are adapted to their food sources (e.g., carpenter birds with long, thin beaks for larvae; chiffchaffs with small beaks for invertebrates). Many endemic bird species. The bat-eared mammal is present.

Climate: Average of 13°C. 698mm of rainfall. Common frosts and dry winds.
Plant Adaptations: Does not exist below 1500m. Occurs in young and rocky terrain.

Climate: Average of 11°C. Rainfall of 400-600mm. Frequent snow. Large temperature swings. High solar radiation and strong winds.