The Algarve, Portugal - guide to the wildflowers, wildlife and nature reserves

List of Wildflowers in the Algarve...

Algarve coast

Typical Algarve coast scene with Onopordum illyricum in the foreground

 

Although the Algarve faces the Atlantic Ocean, its climate owes much more to the Mediterranean region and shares the mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers associated with its neighbour, Spain, and the other countries that surround the Mediterranean basin. Despite the ongoing development of holiday villas and golf courses in the Algarve, much of the coast has been set aside as nature reserves and so it remains a paradise for wildflowers, birds and many other species of wildlife.

To get the most out of a trip to see the wildflowers, and wild orchids in particular, that flourish in the Algarve it is best to visit during the spring - March and April are ideal months. The weather is generally warm and sunny and you will be greeted by a bewildering profusion of flowers wherever you turn.

Excursions along the coastal strip, sometimes referred to as the littoral zone, are a great way to start. This part of the Algarve contains a habitat known as garrigue - an area close to the sea with dense cushions of plants, pruned by the winds and with well defined bare, stony areas in between making the going quite comfortable. In other parts of the coast there are woodlands consisting mainly of the Umbrella (or Stone) Pine (Pinus pinea) which is one of the few trees that can withstand the harsh, salt-laden and windy conditions found there. Further inland is another distinctive habitat referred to as maquis and this supports taller and more dense shrubs which can be almost impenetrable. Few of these areas are without some clearings allowing access, and it is there that you can discover many botanical wonders. Higher up and further from the coast is the mountainous region, sometimes called the serra, which is forested with native cork oaks (Quercus suber), pines and imported Eucalyptus trees. This part of the Algarve also has open, rocky areas which support numerous plants and which frequently resemble rock gardens, although these are populated with wildflowers and not cultivars.

In between the coast and the mountains there are extensive areas of farmland and, unlike the farmland we are used to in Britain, which is virtually devoid of wildflowers due to the excessive use of herbicides and pesticides, these fields in the Algarve are home to an astonishing variety of wildflowers. In cultivated field margins you will find many flowers. Similarly, farmland that is either abandoned or being allowed to lie fallow is immediately taken over by vast numbers of wildflowers, as the picture below illustrates.

Fallow field covered with wildflowers

An Algarve field that is lying fallow has become home to thousands of wildflowers

 

The Algarve is home to a fascinating range of rare and beautiful wild orchids including the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) and numerous others many of which are easy to find. You can find pictures and descriptions of many of the orchids on this website in the Southern European section of the wildflower garden.

Mirror orchid

The Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum) is a real speciality of the Algarve

 

Many of the lovely wildflowers of the area are easily accessible and seem to grow almost anywhere during the spring and early summer, but if you want to see some of the rarer ones, and to enjoy some of the other wonderful wildlife of the region, the national parks and reserves are good places to start. Below are links to detailed information about the most important wildlife areas and natural parks of the Algarve:

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real do San Antonio
Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana
Parque Natural da Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vincentina - Cape St. Vincent
Fonte de Benemola

When in the Algarve we stay in our own, fully serviced, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the peaceful resort of Monte Carvoeiro which is situated above the fishing village of Carvoeiro, midway between Faro Airport and Cape St. Vincent - the most south-westerly tip of Europe. Visitors during the spring who are keen on botany are most welcome to stay at our house. Full details and booking information...

If you email us with your booking confirmation we will be delighted to send you an information pack detailing locals walks and locations for seeing wildflowers, and wild orchids in particular.

Villa in Portugal

Casa Borboleta viewed from the communal garden

 

Wildflowers in the Algarve

Scientific Names Common Names
 Botanical Families Main colour
Allium ampeloprasum Wild Leek Liliaceae 5
Allium subvillosum Allium subvillosum Liliaceae 2
Anacamptis champagneuxii Champagne Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Anacamptis longicornu Long-spurred Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Anacamptis morio Green-winged Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Anacamptis pyramidalis var. Albiflora Pyramidal Orchid - white variant Orchidaceae 2
Anagallis monelli Shrubby Pimpernel Primulaceae 6
Anagallis tenella Bog Pimpernel Primulaceae 5
Anchusa azurea Large Blue Alkanet Boraginaceae 6
Andryala integrifolia Andryala Asteraceae 3
Anthemis tinctoria Yellow Chamomile Asteraceae 3
Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch Fabaceae 3
Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon Scrophulariaceae 5
Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree Ericaceae 4
Arisarum vulgare Friar's Cowl Araceae 7
Armeria pungens Sea Rose Plumbaginaceae 4
Asphodelus aestivus Common Asphodel Liliaceae 2
Asphodelus fistulosus Hollow-stemmed Asphodel Liliaceae 2
Astericus maritimus Yellow Sea daisy Asteraceae 3
Astragalus lusitanicus Astragalus lusitanicus Fabaceae 2
Bellardia trixago Bellardia Scrophulariaceae 3
Bellardia trixago Bellardia Scrophulariaceae 5
Borago officinalis Borage Boraginaceae 1
Bougainvillea glabra Bougainvillea Nyctaginaceae 5
Brassica oleracea Wild Cabbage Brassicaceae 3
Calystegia soldanella Sea Bindweed Convolvulaceae 2
Carpobrutus edulis Hottentot Fig - yellow Aizoaceae 3
Carpobrutus edulis Hottentot Fig - mauve Aizoaceae 5
Centaurea pullata Centaurea pullata Asteraceae 5
Cephalanthera damasonium White Helleborine Orchidaceae 2
Cephalanthera longifolia Sword-leaved Helleborine Orchidaceae 2
Cerinthe major Honeywort - cream Boraginaceae 3
Cerinthe major Honeywort - purple Boraginaceae 5
Chrysanthemum coronarium Crown Daisy Asteraceae 3
Cichorium intybus Chicory Asteraceae 6
Cistanche phelypaea Cistanche Orobanchaceae 3
Cistus albidus Grey-leaved Cistus Cistaceae 5
Cistus ladanifer Gum Cistus Cistaceae 2
Cistus salvifolius Sage-leaved Cistus Cistaceae 2
Colchicum autumnale Autumn Crocus Liliaceae 5
Consolida ambigua Annual Larkspur Ranunculaceae 6
Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Convolvulaceae 2
Convolvulus tricolor Dwarf Convolvulus Convolvulaceae 6
Cotula coronopifolia Buttonweed Asteraceae 3
Cytinus hypocistis Cytinus hypocistus Rafflesiaceaea 5
Datura stramonium Thorn-apple Solanaceae 2
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Scrophulariaceae 5
Dipcadi serotinum Dipcadi Liliaceae 7
Ecballium elaterium Squirting Cucumber Cucurbitaceae 2
Echium angustifolium Narrow-leaved Bugloss Boraginaceae 6
Epipactis helleborine Broad-leaved Helleborine Orchidaceae 1
Epipactis lusitanica Epipactis lusitanica Orchidaceae 1
Epipactis tremolsii Epipactis tremolsii Orchidaceae 1
Erica lusitanica Portuguese Heath Ericaceae 2
Erica multiflora Erica multiflora Ericaceae 5
Eryngium maritimum Sea Holly Apiaceae 6
Fedia cornucopiae Fedia Valerianaceae 5
Ferraria crispa Black Flag Iridaceae 7
Foeniculum vulgare Fennel Apiaceae 2
Fritillaria lusitanica Fritillaria lusitanica Liliaceae 5
Fumaria capreolata White Ramping-fumitory Fumariaceae 2
Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw Rubiaceae 3
Gennaria diphylla Gennaria diphylla Orchidaceae 2
Gladiolus italicus Field Gladiolus Iridaceae 5
Glaucium corniculatum Red Horned-poppy Papaveraceae 4
Glaucium flavum Yellow Horned-poppy Papaveraceae 3
Gynandriris sisyrinchium Barbary Nut Iridaceae 6
Helichrysum stoechas Helichrysum stoechas Asteraceae 3
Himantoglossum hircinum Lizard Orchid Orchidaceae 1
Himantoglossum robertianum Giant Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Hyoscyamus niger Henbane Solanaceae 7
Iris albicans Iris albicans Iridaceae 2
Iris xiphium Spanish Iris Iridaceae 6
Lathyrus latifolius Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea Fabaceae 5
Lavandula stoechas French Lavender Lamiaceae 5
Leucojum autumnale Autumn Snowflake Amaryllidaceae 2
Leucojum trichophyllum Three-leaved snowflake Amaryllidaceae 2
Limodorum abortivum Violet Limodore Orchidaceae 5
Linaria algarviana Algarve Toadflax Scrophulariaceae 5
Linaria reflexa Reflexed-fruit Toadflax Scrophulariaceae 3
Linum narbonense Beautiful Flax Linaceae 6
Lithodora fruiticosum Shrubby Gromwell Boraginaceae 6
Lobelia dortmanna Water Lobelia Campanulaceae 5
Lupinus angustifolius Narrow-leaved Lupin Fabaceae 6
Lupinus luteus Yellow Lupin Fabaceae 3
Malcolmia flexuosa Malcolmia flexuosa Brassicaceae 5
Malcolmia littorea Malcolmia littorea Brassicaceae 5
Malva neglecta Dwarf Mallow Malvaceae 5
Matricaria discoidea Pineaple Mayweed Asteraceae 3
Medicago marina Sea Medick Fabaceae 3
Misopates orontium Lesser Snapdragon Scrophulariaceae 6
Muscari comosum Tassle Hyacinth Liliaceae 5
Muscari neglectum Grape Hyacinth Liliaceae 6
Narcissus bulbocodium Yellow Hoop Petticoat Daffodil Liliaceae 3
Narcissus elegans Narcissus elegans Amaryllidaceae 2
Narcissus papyraceus Paperwhite Narcissus Amaryllidaceae 2
Narcissus serotinus Narcissus serotinus Amaryllidaceae 2
Neottia nidus-avis Bird's-nest Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Nepeta tuberosa Catmint (Nepeta tuberosa) Lamiaceae 6
Nerium oleander Oleander Apocynaceae 6
Ononis pusilla Ononis pusilla Fabaceae 3
Onopordum illyricum Illyrian Scotch Thistle Asteraceae 6
Ophrys apifera Bee Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys bombyliflora Bumblebee Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys dyris Ophrys dyris Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys fusca Sombre Bee Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys iricolor Rainbow Ophrys Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys lutea Yellow Ophrys Orchidaceae 3
Ophrys scolopax Woodcock Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Ophrys speculum Mirror Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys speculum ssp. lusitanica Lusitanica Orchid Orchidaceae 7
Ophrys tenthredinifera Sawfly Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Opuntia ficus-indica Prickly Pear Cactaceae 3
Orchis anthropophora Man Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Orchis champagneuxii Champagne Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Orchis coriophora Bug Orchid Orchidaceae 4
Orchis fragrans Bug Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Orchis intacta Dense-flowered Orchid Orchidaceae 2
Orchis italica Naked Man Orchid Orchidaceae 1
Orchis lactea Milky Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Orchis mascula Early-purple Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Ornithogalum narbonense Ornithogalum narbonense Liliaceae 2
Ornithogalum umbellatum Star-of-Bethlehem Liliaceae 2
Orobanche amethystea Amethyst Broomrape Orobanchaceae 7
Orobanche crenata Carnation-scented Broomrape Orobanchaceae 2
Orobanche foetida Orobanche foetida Orobanchaceae 5
Orobanche minor Common Broomrape Orobanchaceae 7
Orobanche ramosa Hemp Broomrape Orobanchaceae 6
Oxalis articulata Pink Oxalis Oxalidaceae 4
Oxalis Pes-capre Bermuda Buttercup Oxalidaceae 3
Paeonia clusii Clusius's Peony Paeoniaceae 5
Paeonia mascula Wild Peony Paeoniaceae 5
Pancratium maritimum Sea Daffodil Amaryllidaceae 2
Papaver rhoeas Field Poppy Papaveraceae 4
Paronychia argentea Paronychia Caryophyllaceae 4
Phlomis purpurea Purple Phlomis Lamiaceae 5
Prunus dulcis Almond Rosaceae 4
Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron Ericaceae 5
Romulea bulbocodium Romulea bulbocodium Iridaceae 5
Rosa canina Dog Rose Rosaceae 5
Ruta chalepensis Fringed Rue Rutaceae 3
Salvia verbenaca Wild Clary Lamiaceae 1
Sarcocornia perennis Perennial Glasswort Chenopodiaceae 1
Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd's Needles Apiaceae 2
Scilla autumnalis Autumn Squill Liliaceae 5
Scilla bifolia Alpine Squill Liliaceae 6
Scilla monophyllos One-leaved Scilla Liliaceae 6
Scilla peruviana Scilla peruviana Liliaceae 6
Scolymus hispanicus Spanish Oyster Plant Asteraceae 1
Serapias cordigera Heart-flowered Serapias Orchidaceae 4
Serapias lingua Tongue Orchid Orchidaceae 5
Serapias parviflora Small-flowered Serapias Orchidaceae 4
Serapias vomeracea Long-lipped Tongue Orchid Orchidaceae 4
Silene colorata Pink Catchfly Caryophyllaceae 4
Silene gallica Small-flowered Catchfly Caryophyllaceae 4
Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet Solanaceae 5
Solanum sodomaeum Apple of Sodom Solanaceae 5
Spiranthes spiralis Autumn Lady's Tresses Orchidaceae 2
Thalictrum aquilegifolium Great Meadow Rue Ranunculaceae 2
Thymus polytrichus Wild Thyme Lamiaceae 5
Tolpis barbata European Umbrella Milkwort Asteraceae 3
Tragopogon hybridus Pasture Goatsbeard Asteraceae 5
Tragopogon porrifolius Salsify Asteraceae 5
Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed Asteraceae 2
Tripleurospermum maritimum Sea Mayweed Asteraceae 2
Tripodion tetraphyllum Bladder Vetch Fabaceae 3
Tuberaria guttata Spotted Rockrose Cistaceae 3
Vicia benghalensis Red Tufted Vetch Fabaceae 4
Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch Fabaceae 6
Vinca minor Lesser Periwinkle Apocynaceae 6

 

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