Fresh water marshlands are highly specific habitats in the Balearics. When water becomes dammed up, duckweed, (Lemma minor), soon appears, and if there is a considerable amount of running water, other species appear such as bulrush (Typha angustifolia), yellow flag iris, (Iris pseudacorus), two types of sedge (Cladium mariscus) and (Carex hipida) water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica). On the other hand, when the soil is humid but the water level fluctuates, bulrushes, mints appear, and in some isolated places in the Serra de Tramuntana one gets the Majorca endemism Hypericum hircinum subsp.cambessedesii.

On the sandy Balearic shores, the beaches and the few remaining dunes, consist of sand deposits brought in wind and waves. Plants growing in the sea shores environment have evolved and adapted to lack of fresh water over the years since fresh water filters quickly through sandy soil.

Psamophilous vegetation (Psamos =sand – philia=loving) is characterised by its upright or spiny growing habit, and its whitish leaves and its large root system which helps the plant to remain in place among the shifting sands and gain access to the water table below. Such is the case of the Sea holly, (Eryngium maritimum) or the large bindweed (Calyistegia soldanella).

As we move away from the shore front towards the interior, and cross the first area of dunes, we find vegetation protected from the wind and growing on a soil much richer in humus and nutrients. The species growing are more bushy and woody, such as Thymelaea velutina, or Cistus, together with trees such as pines (Pinus halapensis) or the Phoenician juniper (Juniperus Phoenicia).

The damp environments produced by springs, the opening of caves underground caves, fissures on the rocks in shady places, or the dry walls supporting the terracing on our steep mountains, are ideal growing places for ferns. We have tried to recreate the same humid conditions in our Garden so as to display the most of the types of ferns growing on the islands.

In the Balearic Islands there are 17 fern genus, from more than 40 species, amongst which can be seen a considerable number of hybridised endemics, which have evolved in these damp, cool and well drained sites.