Rodalquilar - El Albardinal Botanic Gardens

Rodalquilar -El Albardinal Botanic Gardens

by Chris Chaplow

The El Albardinal Botanic Gardens feature the natural flora and agriculture from semi-arid areas of Eastern Andalucia. You can observe all the different ways that plants have evolved to adapt to the dryness. The gardens include unique species of the Southern Iberian and North African endemism, as well as other plants that have be imported. 

The gardens are large and would take several hours to fully explore. There plants are separated into 36 different plots grouped into six areas. You can wander along the full route of the hardstanding paths, or shortcut between plots for a quicker routes. There is a small stream that divides the north facing gardens from the south facing natural scrubland. There are a number of rest benches with shade. The gardens are best viewed in the early morning. 

All the plants are well identified by little plaques with common Spanish name, scientific name in latin, botanic family, geographical distribution, and threat level (danger of extinction, vulnerable, of special interest ).

Here are the seven areas

Vegetation relating to specific climates.
The garden tour starts with fan palms, Kermes, oaks, mastic trees which occupy the more favourable, less arid places.  In Less favourable places grow esparto grass, thyme, sisal shrubberies.

Vegetation relating to specific terrains.
Plants that grow on dunes and beaches, salt marches, gypsum deposits, Tabernas desert, rocks, ponds, volcanic soil. 

Traditional crops
Crops including trees that are farmed in both dry and lightly irrigated land. This includes natural vegetable gardens which are now abandoned. Includes herbaceous crops, horticultural crops, grapevines and caper.

Collections
Collections of bulbous, annual and hemicriptophyte plants demonstrate different strategies to face the harsh conditions.
Collections of so called useful plants, show how humans have learned to use the wild plants.

Rare, threatened and endemic vegetation
This section features the endemic species to southern Iberia area. 

Palms, cacti, and crassulacaea
This is a demonstration of plants from other parts, that are often seen in Almeria, but have adapted for the dry conditions.

Gardening
 This are demonstrated both indigenous and foreign species that have so well adapted they are in frequent use in house and public ornamental gardens.

 

The El Albardinal Botanical  Garden is one of about fifteen in government supported Botanical Garden Network located all over Andalucia, plus several independent ones.

 

 

Location

North side of village near church.

Hours

Winters 16th Sept to 30 May
Monday to Friday: 09.00 to 14.00
Saturday, Sunday holidays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 18.00

 

 

Entrance

Free.

 

No cafe but drink vending machines.
Reception is unattended most of the time.

Contact:

Tel 902 525 100
[email protected]