Seductive plants from Madeira are best viewed on the island but it is tempting to bring some how as bulbs or plants. I avoid bringing plant material home as it may bring back pest and disease. As a Yorkshireman I don’t want  to loose my money and the plant markets are just tourist ‘come and buy me’ traps.

Monte Palace Tropical Garden

• 3 Miles from Funchal at Monte there is a tropical garden dating back to the 18th century. You can access it by 21st century cable car and return on the toboggans.

• 70,000 square meters of garden include Proteas, Cycads, Acaias, Sequoias and Azaleas representing all the continents.

• Close by is the wilder area of the Laurissilva Forest a Unesco world heritage site.

Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro Gardens

• The gardens, owned by the Blandy family since 1885, boasts some of the most valuable and rare exotic plants on the island.

• The gardens specialise in splendid Camellia varieties which you will be able to admire to its full extent during the main flowering season between November and April.

• There is also topiary, great trees and views down into Funchal.

Botanical Gardens

• Quinta do Bom Sucesso was a private Quinta belonging to the Reid’s family. This has been the Government owned botanic garden since 1960. – where the climatic conditions are much in favour of exuberant vegetation.

• The Botanical Garden boasts more than 2000 different plants.

• Throughout the gardens visitors can find the plants labeled with their scientific names, common name and origin.

• There are five distinct areas to visit including, Indigenous and endemic, Tree Garden, Succulents, Tropical/Cultivated/Aromatic/Medicinal and The Loiro Park which has some of the most exotic and rare birds.

 

There are several other gardens to visit during a holiday on the Island. The walks in the country also provide ample opportunity to see a wide range of flowers, trees and plants in their natural habitats.