Eryngium aquifolium

Eryngium aquifolium Blue devil

Cardo azul

This pretty blue thistle is endemic to southern Spain and Morocco. It flowers from May to July and is found at an altitude of between 300~1,300 metres.

Bryonia diocia

Bryonia diocia White briony
Nueza blanca
May~July

Drimia maritima

 Drimia maritima Sea squill 

Cebolla marino 

Grows from sea-level to 1,300m. The green leaves appear after the flowers and remain all winter and spring. It flowers from August to October.  It is very poisonous and it has been used as a heart stimulant and diuretic in the past. It can be mistaken for an Asphodelus. These plants are just starting to flower now. 3.9.2015.

Smilax aspera

Smilax aspera Rough bindweed

Zarzaparrilla

This climber is native to Mediterranean Europe, Central Africa and Asia. It can grow to approx. 4 metres and the leaves are very thorny. It flowers (very fragrant) from July to October. I found this beautifully perfumed climber today, 2.10.2015.

Scilla peruviana

Scilla peruviana  Portuguese squill

Jacinto estrellado

This beautiful flower is native to the southern Iberian peninsula, Italy and NW Africa. It flowers from February to May. It was always thought that it came from Peru, but actually the bulbs arrived centuries ago on a ship named Peru! The leaves are linear, 1`4cm wide and 20¬40cms long, and the flowering stem is 15¬40cms tall. They appear to be fairly solitary plants.

Scilla autumnalis/ Prospero autumnale

Scilla autumnalis Autumn squill 

Jacinto endeble 

It flowers from September~November and is

poisonous. It is native to the Mediterranean and also found in Great Britain. It is now called Prospero autumnale.

White form 11.10.2013

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Ornithogalum umbellatum Star of Bethlehem 

Leche de pajaro 

March~June

Ornithogalum reverchonii

Ornithogalum reverchonii 

February~April

Ornithogalum narbonense

Ornithogalum narbonense Southern Star of Bethlehem
Varita de San Jose

This lovely spring bulb is native to the Mediterranean Basin, Turkey, and NW Iran. It grows to a height of 50cms tall and flowers from April to June. It is also called the Narbonne Star of Bethlehem, after the town in France. It is a herbaceous perennial.

Ornithogalum arabicum

Ornithogalum arabicum Arabian star flower 

April~May. It is native to north Africa and southern Europe.

Muscari neglectum

Muscari neglectum Common grape hyacinth 

Nazarenos 

March~June

Merendera androcymbioides

Merendera androcymbioides Merendera 

December~March 

Endemic to Spain

Hyacinthoides hispanica

Hyacinthoides hispanica Spanish bluebell 

Jacinto de bosque 

It flowers from March~June and is distinguished from other Bluebells by it's paler and larger flowers. 

It is native to the western part of the Iberian peninsula. It appears in small clusters often found growing in crevices of limestone rock. It has little or no scent compared to its northern relatives.

Gagea for id

Gagea species. Yellow Star of Bethlehem

There are several species of Gagea in southern Spain, and it is very difficult to identify them from each other. The seed is needed for an actual id. They flower from March to June  and are found all over Europe and Asia. They are quite small, from 10¬15cms tall.

Fritillaria hispanica

Fritillaria hispanica Snake's head fritillary

Meleagria

This beautiful Fritillary is native to the SW Iberian peninsula and is found flowering from February to May. It grows from 20¬50cms tall and is found in small colonies at an altitude of 500¬2,000m. It is found on rocky dry slopes and sometimes amongst Cork woods.

Colchicum autumnale

Colchicum autumnale Autumn-crocus 

Colchilo

August~October

Asparagus albus

Asparagus albus Asparagus 

Esparraguera blanca 

July~October

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis Blue grass lily 

Falso junquillo 

March~June

Allium triquetum

Allium triquetum Three-cornered leek or Wild garlic

 Lágrimas de la virgen

This Allium flowers from November to May and grows from 20-60cms tall. It is native to the Mediterranean basin and gives off a strong smell of onion. All parts of the plant, when fresh, are edible. It has been introduced into the UK and other countries.

Allium stearnii

Allium stearnii

 Synonym: Allium paniculatum ssp stearnii
This Allium is in the threatened category, but not extremely so as at the moment there are large numbers, and is native to southern Portugal and Spain. It grows from 35-80cms tall and flowers in June and July.

Allium sphaerocephalon

Allium sphaerocephalon Round-headed leek 

Ajo perruno 

This plant grows from 20-80cms tall and flowers from May to July. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa and SW Asia.

Allium neopolitanum

Allium neopolitanum Naples garlic 

Ajo blanco

This Allium grows from 10-40cms tall and flowers from March to June. It is native to the Mediterranean and SW Asia.

Allium ampeloprasum

Allium ampeloprasum Great headed leek 

Puerro silvestre 

This plant is very tall and grows from 40cms to 130cms. It flowers from April to August and is abundant in south Europe, SW Asia and north Africa.

Dipcadi serotinum

Dipcadi serotinum Spanish Brown Bluebell
Jacinto bastardo
March~June

Muscari comosum

Muscari comosum Tassle Hyacinth
Guitarillo
March~June

Cleonia lusitanica

Cleonia lusitanica

This pretty little flower is native to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. It grows to a height of 10-15cms and there are carpets of this flower in some fields from May to August.

Tuberaria guttata

Tuberaria guttata The spotted rockrose

This plant flowers from April~June in the Mediterranean area, but is also found in places in Wales and Ireland. It grows from 10-35cms.

Helianthemum almeriense

Helianthemum almeriense
Jarilla de Almeria

Flowers February to June
Endemic to SE Andalusia

Silene latifolia

Silene latifolia White campion

This lovely Campion flowers from March~June, and is native to most of Europe, western Asia and NW Africa. It grows from 40~80cms tall. In the UK it is called the "Flower of the dead" as it is often found growing in graveyards.

Clematis flammula

Clematis flammula Fragrant virgin's bower

Cola de ardilla

This wonderful fragrant Clematis is native to southern Europe and north Africa. It can grow to a height of 5m but is poisonous. It is now widely cultivated worldwide. It flowers from May to July.

Convolvulus tricolor ssp meonanthus

Convolvulus tricolor ssp meonanthus Dwarf morning glory

March to June

Armeria villosa ssp villosa

Armeria villosa ssp villosa

This rare, endemic plant flowers from May~July and is found in the mountains of Tolox and Sierra de las Nieves. It can grow to an height of 35cms and this was photographed at Sierra de las Nieves. The identification was confirmed by a local botanist. It grows at an altitude of between 1,400~1,800 metres.

Red list of Andalucia In danger of extinction

Misopates orontium

Misopates orontium Lesser Snapdragon 

Bercerilla

This plant flowers from March to June and is very small, at 10-25cms. It is native to Europe and naturalised in North America.

Antirrhinum australe

Antirrhinum australe Large Snapdragon 

Boca de dragon

This plant can be in flower most months of the year, though it mainly flowers from March to July. It can grow up to 1 metre. It is a native of the southern Iberian peninsula.