The Umbria de la Virgen botanic garden (Jardin Botanico Umbría De La Virgen) is located in a stunning mountain area not far from María loz Velez amid the dense vegetation of the shaded slopes of the Sierra María. The facility provides information about the flora (and fauna) of the sierra de Maria-Los Velez natural park.
Inside the centre there are various leaflets, information boards and a small exhibition. Outside a path winds its way through the various displays of flowers, shrubs and other vegetation of the area with almost all plants labled with common Spanish and scientific names.
Short video of the Umbria de la Virgen botanic garden
Getting there
Address: Paraje de la Umbría s/n. Desvío de la ctra. A-317 (María-Orce) junto a Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza. 04838 María (Almería)
After Velez-Blanco, as you travel out of María (towards the camping and La Piza which are both on the right) the botanic gardens are signposted on your left (2km from the main road).
Plant list for the Umbria de la Virgen botanic garden
For a small garden there is quite an extensive planting scheme that shows examples of many plants that are to be found in this area. Its well worth a visit (especially during spring to early summer)
- Acer opalus granatense
- Acer monspessulanum
- Acinos alpinus subsp meridionalis
- Adonis annua
- Aethionema marginatum
- Alyssum serpyllifolium
- Amelanchier ovalis
- Andryala agardhii
- Anthyllis montana
- Aphyllantes monspeliensis
- Apium graveolens
- Aquilegia nevadensis
- Arenaria grandiflora
- Arenaria arcuatociliata
- Arenaria tomentosa
- Arenaria tetraquetra subsp murcica
- Armeria bourgaei subsp bourgaei
- Asphodelus macrocarpus
- Asplenium trichomanes
- Athamanta hispanica
- Atropa baetica
- Berberis vulgaris
- Boreava aptera
- Brassica repanda subsp. almeriensis
- Bupleurum bourgaei
- Bupleurum fruticosum
- Carex panicea
- Centaurea antennata subsp meridionalis
- Centaurea mariana
- Centaurea granatensis
- Centaurea saxifraga
- Cerastium gibraltaricum
- Cistus albidus
- Cistus laurifolius
- Clypeola eriocarpa
- Convolvulus lanuginosus
- Cotoneaster granatense
- Crataegus laciniata
- Crataegus monogyna
- Crupina crupinastrum
- Cytisus scoparius
- Dictamus hispanicus
- Digitalis obscura
- Digitalis nevadensis
- Ephedra nebrodensis
- Equisetum ramosissimum
- Erinacea anthyllis
- Erodium valentinum
- Erodium rupicola
- Erysimum baeticum
- Fumana paradoxa
- Galium aparine
- Genista cinerea
- Genista lobelii subsp. longipes
- Genista mugronensis
- Genista scorpius
- Globularia punctata
- Globularia spinosa
- Globularia vulgaris
- Guiraoa arvensis
- Helianthemum cinereum
- Helianthemum cinereum subsp. guadiccianum
- Helianthemum hirtum
- Helianthemum rossmaessleri
- Helictotrichon filifolium subsp. filifolium
- Helleborus foetidus
- Hormathophylla cadevalliana
- Hormathophylla spinosa
- Hyssopus officinalis
- Iberis carnosa subsp. granatensis
- Iberis saxatilis
- Juniperus oxycedrus
- Juniperus phoenicea
- Juniperus sabina
- Juniperus thurifera
- Jurinea pinnata
- Lactuca perennis subsp. granatensis
- Lavandula latifolia
- Linaria cavanillesii
- Lonicera arborea
- Lonicera etrusca
- Lonicera implexa
- Lonicera periclymenum subsp hispanica
- Lonicera pyrenaica subsp. pyrenaica
- Marrubium vulgare
- Matthiola fruticulosa subsp. fruticulosa
- Matricaria chamomilla
- Melica minuta
- Mentha suaveolens
- Moehringia intricata
- Nepeta hispanica
- Onobrychis argentea subsp. hispanica
- Ononis fruticosa
- Origanum virens
- Paeonia broteroi
- Petroselinum crispum
- Phlomis lychnitis
- Pinus halepensis
- Pinus nigra
- Pinus pinaster
- Pistacia terebinthus
- Plantago sempervirens
- Platycapnos saxicola
- Populus alba
- Populus nigra
- Primula elatior subsp lofthousei
- Prunus mahaleb
- Prunus prostata
- Quercus coccifera
- Quercus faginea
- Quercus rotundifolia
- Retama sphaerocarpa
- Rhamnus alaternus
- Rhamnus lycioides
- Rhamnus myrtifolius
- Rhamnus pumilus
- Rhamnus saxatilis
- Rhaponticum coniferum
- Ribes alpinum
- Rosa agrestis
- Rosa stylosa
- Rubia peregrina
- Rubus ulmifolius
- Rumex scutatus
- Ruta angustifolia
- Salvia lavandulifolia subsp. vellerea
- Salvia phlomoides
- Salvia rosmarinus
- Salvia sclarea
- Sambucus nigra
- Sanguisorba minor
- Santolina chamaecyparissus
- Saponaria ocymoides
- Sarcocapnos saetabensis
- Saxifraga camposii subsp. leptophylla
- Scrophularia tanacetifolia
- Scutellaria orientalis subsp. hispanica
- Sedum acre
- Sedum album
- Sedum dasiphyllum
- Sedum sediforme
- Sideritis bourgeana
- Sideritis incana
- Sideritis stachydioides
- Silene germana
- Solanum tuberosum
- Sorbus aria
- Sorbus domestica
- Stipa tenacissima
- Teucrium bicoloreum
- Teucrium capitatum
- Teucrium webbianum
- Thymus mastichina
- Thymus membranaceus
- Thymus longiflorus
- Thymus orospedanus
- Thymus serpylloides subsp gadorensis
- Thymus vulgaris
- Tragopogon dubius
- Tragopogon porrifolius
- Urtica dioica (Ortiga)
- Vella pseudocytisus L. subsp. pseudocytisus
- Vella spinosa
More information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jardin-Botanico-Umbr%C3%ADa-De-La-Virgen-Mar%C3%ADa-410546892483110/
Web: (Spanish) https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/portal/web/ventanadelvisitante/detalle-buscador-mapa/-/asset_publisher/Jlbxh2qB3NwR/content/umbr-c3-ada-de-la-virgen/255035
The Grazalema Guide
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