M5 Mountain flora, maquis flora, scrub land and screen slope flora

This terrace, having originally been an apple orchard, has allowed us to start our design of space and vertical structures characteristic of the Garden. It is designed for plants, with the aim of crating the specific micro habitats and to give each species its ecological requirements. These structures based on terraces and rockeries, with different orientations and substrates, give plants varying conditions of sun/shade, dry/damp, as close as possible to their natural habitat. The lime tree (Tilia platyphylos), the largest and leafiest in the Garden, has been preserved on the terrace from the former estate, as has the area of golden bamboo, (Phylostachys aurea).

Maquis flora: the shrubby sclerophyllous and dense habitat is frequent, especially in Majorca and Minorca. Wild olives, mastic, tree euphorbia, and Cneorum tricoccon or spurge olive are some of the most typical species. In the Majorcan maquis the little fan palm (Chamareops humilis) stands out.

Scrub land and screen slope flora: Scrubland and screen slopes occupy a large part of the Majorcan mountain landscape. A specific flora has arisen here from the loss of the evergreen oak forest. Rosemary, Phlomis italica, Hyperycum balearicum and Ampelodesma mauritanicum are classic examples.

Mountain flora: the Balearic mountain flora can be found between 600m above sea level to the highest peaks (1400m). Generally the vegetation is consists of a population of sclerophyllous plants where the cushion-like Astragalus balearicus, Teucrium marum etc, are frequent. In some cooler and damper places rare species like Acer (Acer granatense ) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium) etc.

Brushwood flora: In woodland clearings, where the sun light penetrates, populations of sun loving plants grow which are mostly aromatic: Rosemary, thyme and the serrated lavender. Also present are heather, broom, needle furze and several species of orchids.

Cliff species: Brassica balearica, Scabiosa cretica, Helichrysum ambiguum, Hippocrepis balearica etc. take advantage of rock fissures to establish their root system in a cool well drained situation. Their inaccessibility keeps them safe from herbivores.